Meaning
To buy something without inspecting it first.
Cultural Background
In Sweden, the 'undersökningsplikt' (duty to inspect) is a legal concept in real estate. If you don't inspect a house and find a 'visible' fault later, you have 'köpt grisen i säcken' and have no legal recourse. Transparency is highly valued in Nordic business culture. Asking 'Is this a pig in a sack?' is a common way to demand more data during negotiations. The phrase dates back to the 1500s in Sweden, appearing in early legal and religious texts as a warning against greed and haste.
Use it to sound like a local
Swedes love using this idiom when discussing Tradera (the Swedish eBay). It shows you understand the risks of second-hand shopping.
Don't use with 'en'
Always use 'grisen' and 'säcken' in the definite form. 'En gris i en säck' sounds like a literal farm report.
Meaning
To buy something without inspecting it first.
Use it to sound like a local
Swedes love using this idiom when discussing Tradera (the Swedish eBay). It shows you understand the risks of second-hand shopping.
Don't use with 'en'
Always use 'grisen' and 'säcken' in the definite form. 'En gris i en säck' sounds like a literal farm report.
Test Yourself
Fyll i de ord som saknas i idiomet.
Jag vill inte köpa ______ i ______.
Det korrekta idiomet på svenska använder 'grisen' och 'säcken'.
Vilken situation beskriver bäst idiomet?
När använder man 'köpa grisen i säcken'?
Idiomet handlar om risken med att inte kontrollera en vara.
Slutför dialogen med rätt form av idiomet.
A: Ska du köpa den där begagnade mobilen osett? B: Nej, verkligen inte. Jag vill inte ______.
Efter 'vill inte' använder vi infinitivformen 'köpa'.
🎉 Score: /3
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
3 exercisesJag vill inte köpa ______ i ______.
Det korrekta idiomet på svenska använder 'grisen' och 'säcken'.
När använder man 'köpa grisen i säcken'?
Idiomet handlar om risken med att inte kontrollera en vara.
A: Ska du köpa den där begagnade mobilen osett? B: Nej, verkligen inte. Jag vill inte ______.
Efter 'vill inte' använder vi infinitivformen 'köpa'.
🎉 Score: /3
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsIn Swedish, 'grisen' is much more common. 'Katten' is used in German and French, but Swedes prefer the pig.
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in a professional context to express concern about a lack of information.
Related Phrases
Gå på en mina
similarTo make a big mistake or be badly surprised.
Katten i säcken
synonymThe cat in the sack.
Släppa ut katten ur säcken
builds onTo let the cat out of the bag (reveal a secret).
