Icelandic phrases that make no sense in English.

Á sama báti

“In the same boat”

Same as English — facing the same problem. Very fitting for an island people.

Að vera á milli steins og sleggju

“To be between a stone and a sledgehammer”

Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Our version is more violent.

Að pissa í skóinn sinn

“To pee in your own shoe”

Short-term solution that creates a bigger problem. Classic.

Að leggja árar í bát

“To put the oars in the boat”

To give up. Opposite of "keep rowing" — stop paddling and drift.

Ég kem alveg af fjöllum

“I come completely from the mountains”

I have no idea what's going on; I'm out of the loop.

Eins og fiskur á þurru landi

“Like a fish on dry land”

Totally out of place.

Margur er knár þótt hann sé smár

“Many are strong even though they are small”

Don't underestimate short people. Also the unofficial motto of the Icelandic national football team.

Gluggaveður

“Window weather”

Looks beautiful from inside, but it's actually cold/nasty out — dress properly!

Kemur allt með kalda vatninu

“It all comes with the cold water”

Be patient; good things come to those who wait.

Blindur er bóklaus maður

“Blind is a bookless man”

Without reading, you're ignorant to the world.

Alveg út að aka

“Totally out driving”

Someone is way off or acting crazy about something.

Leggja höfuðið í bleyti

“Lay your head in water”

Think it over carefully before deciding.

Gefa undir fótinn

“Give under the foot”

To flirt or show romantic interest.

Það er ekki hundrað í hættunni

“There are not a hundred in danger”

"It's not a big deal." Used to calm someone down.

Áfram með smjörið

“On with the butter”

A nudge to get moving or keep going — "get on with it."

Mér er skítsama

“I have feelings equal to shit”

I couldn't care less.

Takk fyrir síðast

“Thank you for last time”

Polite greeting — "thanks for the last time we met."

Bíta á jaxlinn

“Bite the molar”

Grit your teeth and push through something tough.

Slá tvær flugur í einu höggi

“To hit two flies with one blow”

Two birds, one stone.

Enginn verður óbarinn biskup

“Nobody becomes an unbeaten bishop”

No pain, no gain — you don't reach goals without effort.

Rúsínan í pylsuendanum

“The raisin at the end of the hot dog”

A pleasant surprise or the highlight that tops off a day.

Þetta reddast

“It'll work out”

The unofficial national motto. "Whatever happens, it'll be fine." Heard at least 10 times a day across Iceland.

Að finna á sér

“To feel on yourself”

To have a gut feeling / a hunch about something. Can also mean to be inebriated.