Meaning
To invest time or energy in something.
Cultural Background
In Swedish business culture, 'lägga krut på' is often used during 'planeringsmöten' (planning meetings) to decide where the budget goes. It reflects a pragmatic approach to resource management. The phrase is equally common in Finland-Swedish. It carries the same weight of 'Sisu' (determination) when used in a sporting or work context. The idiom is a linguistic fossil from the 1600s when Sweden was a military superpower. It reminds Swedes of their history as a nation of engineers and soldiers. Influencers often use the phrase when describing their 'content creation' process, showing that they don't just post randomly but put effort into their aesthetic.
Use 'Extra' for impact
Adding 'extra' (lägga extra krut på) is the most common way to use this in a professional setting to show you are going above and beyond.
Don't forget 'PÅ'
The most common mistake for English speakers is saying 'lägga krut i'. Always use 'på'!
Meaning
To invest time or energy in something.
Use 'Extra' for impact
Adding 'extra' (lägga extra krut på) is the most common way to use this in a professional setting to show you are going above and beyond.
Don't forget 'PÅ'
The most common mistake for English speakers is saying 'lägga krut i'. Always use 'på'!
Complimenting others
It is a very high compliment to tell someone 'Du har verkligen lagt krut på det här'. It acknowledges their hard work.
Test Yourself
Fyll i de ord som saknas i meningen.
Vi måste lägga mer ______ ______ marknadsföringen nästa månad.
The idiom is 'lägga krut på'.
Vilken mening är mest naturlig?
Du vill klara provet. Vad gör du?
You 'lägga krut på' things that require effort and lead to a goal.
Matcha situationen med rätt användning av uttrycket.
Situation: Du har lagat en fantastisk trerätters middag.
Cooking a complex dish is a perfect use for this idiom.
Slutför dialogen.
A: Ska vi köpa billiga blommor till bröllopet? B: Nej, jag tycker vi ska...
B wants to prioritize the flowers and make them high quality.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesVi måste lägga mer ______ ______ marknadsföringen nästa månad.
The idiom is 'lägga krut på'.
Du vill klara provet. Vad gör du?
You 'lägga krut på' things that require effort and lead to a goal.
Situation: Du har lagat en fantastisk trerätters middag.
Cooking a complex dish is a perfect use for this idiom.
A: Ska vi köpa billiga blommor till bröllopet? B: Nej, jag tycker vi ska...
B wants to prioritize the flowers and make them high quality.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes! It's very common in business to say a company 'lägger krut på' a certain department, meaning they are investing money there.
It's a bit too idiomatic for a formal CV. Use 'fokusera på' or 'prioritera' instead. However, you can use it in a cover letter to show personality.
'Satsa på' is more like 'to bet on' or 'to aim for'. 'Lägga krut på' implies the actual hard work and energy spent after the decision is made.
Yes, 'att inte lägga något krut på' means to ignore or put zero effort into something.
Yes, in this idiom, 'krut' is an uncountable noun and is always singular.
Not at all. It sounds energetic and positive. It's about 'power', not 'violence'.
You can 'lägga krut på' a person if you are a coach or a teacher helping them improve.
Yes, 'lade krut på'. Example: 'Jag lade mycket krut på min ansökan'.
Work and school are the most common, followed by hobbies like cooking or sports.
Yes, it is a standard idiom used from Malmö to Kiruna.
Related Phrases
spara på krutet
contrastTo hold back your energy or resources for a better time.
lägga manken till
synonymTo work very hard on something.
ha krut i benen
similarTo have a lot of energy (usually for running or walking).
slösa krut på oväsentligheter
specialized formTo waste effort on things that don't matter.
