gå bet
Swedish
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Originally of failing to make a contract in Bridge and similar card games. See bet.
Verb
[edit]gå bet (present går bet, preterite gick bet, supine gått bet, imperative gå bet)
- (idiomatic) to fail (at something)
- en privatdetektiv som löser fallen där polisen går bet
- a private eye who solves the cases that stump the police
- Nisse klarade hinderbanans armgångsmoment, men gick bet på klätterväggen
- Nisse got past the monkey bars section of the obstacle course, but couldn't make it up the climbing wall
- Klarar du frågan frågesportsdeltagarna gick bet på?
- Can you answer the question that stumped the quiz show contestants?
- Hon gick bet på arvet
- She lost out on the inheritance
- Tjuvarna gick bet på kassaskåpet
- The thieves couldn't get into the safe
Usage notes
[edit]"Gå bet på X" can be used whenever it is clear how X involves a failure (failing to overcome, failing to acquire, etc.) – to "fail on" something.