Danish expression of the day: at få spat

If you're finding yourself getting easily irritated, today’s word of the day might help you explain how you’re feeling in Danish.

Spat (“bone spavin” in English) is a disease which affects horses, which gives them an inflammation of the hocks, causing them to twitch their legs erratically, walk stiffly, or act agitated.

Over time, Danes took this image of an uncontrollably twitching, agitated horse and applied it to a human who is so frustrated they can't sit still.

“At få spat” is therefore an informal expression used to say you’re getting irritated or cross.

An equivalent translation to English may be “It’s driving me up the wall/crazy” or “I’m losing my mind”.

This expression is a very common, informal idiom used by Danes in everyday speech. Knowing it will show that you have a good, everyday, colloquial understanding of the Danish language.

You’ll likely also find this saying in Danish media or even in informal workplace communications. Avoid using it with clients or in professional meetings or presentations.

"The neighbour is drilling into the wall again, I am seriously losing my mind!"