Meaning
To rain very heavily.
Cultural Background
Rain on Midsummer's Eve is a running joke in Sweden. If it 'står som spön i backen' on Midsummer, people will laugh and say 'Typical Swedish summer!' The idiom reflects Sweden's history as an agrarian society where observing the weather was crucial for survival and farming. Swedes have many words for rain (duggregn, skur, skyfall, spöregn), showing the importance of the phenomenon in their lives. In modern urban culture, this idiom is often used on social media to express frustration with the weather during holidays.
Use it for drama
This phrase is more dramatic than 'det regnar mycket'. Use it when you want to emphasize how bad the weather is.
Don't use for snow
Even if it's snowing heavily, this idiom is strictly for rain.
Meaning
To rain very heavily.
Use it for drama
This phrase is more dramatic than 'det regnar mycket'. Use it when you want to emphasize how bad the weather is.
Don't use for snow
Even if it's snowing heavily, this idiom is strictly for rain.
The 'Det' subject
You don't need to say 'regnet' (the rain). Just saying 'Det står som spön i backen' is very natural.
Midsummer essential
If you want to sound like a local on Midsummer, this is the #1 phrase to have ready.
Test Yourself
Fyll i det saknade ordet i idiomet.
Det regnar så mycket att det står som _______ i backen.
Idiomet är 'stå som spön i backen'. 'Spön' betyder tunna spön eller vidjor.
Vilket verb används i detta idiom?
Det _______ som spön i backen.
Man använder verbet 'stå' för att beskriva hur regnet ser ut som vertikala föremål.
I vilken situation passar det bäst att använda idiomet?
Välj rätt situation:
Idiomet används bara för mycket kraftigt regn.
Slutför dialogen.
A: Ska vi gå ut och springa? B: Nej, har du inte sett vädret? Det ________________.
Detta är den korrekta och mest naturliga formen av idiomet.
Matcha tidsformen av verbet 'stå'.
Matcha rätt par:
Verbet 'stå' böjs oregelbundet: står, stod, stått.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Stå som spön i backen vs. Raining Cats and Dogs
Practice Bank
5 exercisesDet regnar så mycket att det står som _______ i backen.
Idiomet är 'stå som spön i backen'. 'Spön' betyder tunna spön eller vidjor.
Det _______ som spön i backen.
Man använder verbet 'stå' för att beskriva hur regnet ser ut som vertikala föremål.
Välj rätt situation:
Idiomet används bara för mycket kraftigt regn.
A: Ska vi gå ut och springa? B: Nej, har du inte sett vädret? Det ________________.
Detta är den korrekta och mest naturliga formen av idiomet.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Verbet 'stå' böjs oregelbundet: står, stod, stått.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt's understandable, but not the standard idiom. Swedes always use 'står'.
It's neutral. You can use it in almost any context, from a chat with a friend to a news report.
It means a thin rod, cane, or whip. In modern Swedish, it's most commonly used for a fishing rod (fiskespö).
The idiom implies the rain is hitting the ground with such force it's going 'into' it, or it's just a fixed prepositional phrase you have to memorize.
Yes, you can just say 'Det spöregnar'.
Yes, as long as it's very heavy while it lasts.
No! 'Spö' (rod) and 'spöke' (ghost) are unrelated words.
Yes, it is a universally understood idiom across the whole country.
Absolutely. 'Det stod som spön i backen igår' is very common.
The closest equivalent is 'It's raining cats and dogs' or 'It's bucketing down'.
Yes, if you are explaining why you might be late or why an outdoor event is canceled. It's not too informal.
Not necessarily, but heavy rain in Sweden often comes with wind.
Related Phrases
ösa ner
synonymTo pour down
spöregna
builds onTo rain rods (verb)
skyfall
similarDownpour/Cloudburst
himmelen har öppnat sig
similarThe sky has opened up
duggregn
contrastDrizzle
