Meaning
to make someone very angry
Cultural Background
Swedes often express 'boiling blood' through passive-aggressive notes (arglappar) rather than direct shouting matches. In Italian culture, expressing that your blood is boiling ('mi fa bollire il sangue') is often accompanied by vivid hand gestures to show the heat rising. In the US, this phrase is very common in political discourse and cable news to describe the 'outrage of the day'. While the concept is understood, Japanese people are less likely to use such a high-intensity idiom in public, preferring more indirect ways to express displeasure.
Use with 'verkligen'
Adding 'verkligen' (really) makes the idiom sound much more natural and emphatic.
Don't use for sadness
This is strictly for anger. If you are very sad, your blood doesn't boil; your heart might 'brista' (break).
Meaning
to make someone very angry
Use with 'verkligen'
Adding 'verkligen' (really) makes the idiom sound much more natural and emphatic.
Don't use for sadness
This is strictly for anger. If you are very sad, your blood doesn't boil; your heart might 'brista' (break).
The 'Hos' construction
When talking about a group, use 'hos': 'Det fick blodet att koka hos lärarna.'
Test Yourself
Fyll i det saknade ordet i meningen.
Det ______ verkligen mitt blod att koka när folk skräpar ner i naturen.
Idiomet kräver verbet 'få'.
Vilken mening är korrekt?
Välj det alternativ som använder idiomet på rätt sätt.
Meningen behöver både 'få', ett objekt (mitt blod) och 'att'.
Matcha situationen med rätt känsla.
Du ser någon stjäla en cykel mitt på dagen.
Att se ett brott begås brukar väcka stark ilska/indignation.
Slutför dialogen.
A: Hörde du att de ska riva den gamla parken? B: Ja, det är hemskt! Det ______.
Standardformen av idiomet passar bäst här.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Anger Levels
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDet ______ verkligen mitt blod att koka när folk skräpar ner i naturen.
Idiomet kräver verbet 'få'.
Välj det alternativ som använder idiomet på rätt sätt.
Meningen behöver både 'få', ett objekt (mitt blod) och 'att'.
Du ser någon stjäla en cykel mitt på dagen.
Att se ett brott begås brukar väcka stark ilska/indignation.
A: Hörde du att de ska riva den gamla parken? B: Ja, det är hemskt! Det ______.
Standardformen av idiomet passar bäst här.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt depends. It's fine for discussing a frustrating situation with a trusted colleague, but avoid using it in a formal meeting with your boss.
Yes, but 'det får mitt blod att koka' is more common when there is a specific cause.
'Se rött' is a sudden explosion of rage. 'Få blodet att koka' is the feeling of intense heat and indignation.
Always use 'att' in writing. In speech, it might sound like 'å'.
No, it is almost exclusively negative. For positive passion, use 'blodet svallar'.
Yes, it's one of the most common ways to express strong anger in Swedish.
Yes: 'Det fick mitt blod att koka'.
Not at all. It is used daily in newspapers and on TV.
You could say 'jag lackar' or 'jag blir sne'.
Yes, to describe how you felt during an event.
Related Phrases
Se rött
similarTo become suddenly very angry.
Gå i taket
similarTo hit the roof / explode with anger.
Koka av vrede
synonymTo boil with rage.
Hålla huvudet kallt
contrastTo keep a cool head.
Vara på krigsstigen
builds onTo be on the warpath.
