brinna i knutarna

Swedish

Etymology

brinna (“burn”) +‎ i (“in”) +‎ knutarna (“the corners (of a wooden building)”)

Verb

brinna i knutarna (present brinner i knutarna, preterite brann i knutarna, supine brunnit i knutarna, imperative brinn i knutarna)

1. (idiomatic) to be great urgency due to lack of time; to be no time to lose, etc.

   Få hit förstärkningarna omedelbart. Fienden är en kilometer bort, så det brinner i knutarna.

   Get the reinforcements here immediately. The enemy is a kilometer away, so there's no time to lose [so it is burning in the corners].

See also

• bråttom

References

• knut in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• knut in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)