There’s an expression in Swedish that I’ve often wondered about where it comes from. The expression – ‘pang på rödbetan‘ – bang on the beetroot. It’s a weird idiomatic expression that in its earlier meaning, referred to getting straight down to penetrative sex without any foreplay. However, today it is used to describe any situation in which we get straight down to it, for example in a meeting, in a discussion, in a conflict.
The ‘pang på’ is easy to understand as it means straight forward or slap-bang. But where does the beetroot come from?
Well, according to a common theory, it originated from the word ‘robota’ in Polish. This word came with temporary labourers to southern Sweden in the 1800’s and was Swedified by the locals. The expression ‘pang på rödbeta’ was used in Sweden’s southern Skåne region already in the 1900’s. So what does the word ‘robota’ mean? Well, it is defined as hard work, repetitive work and routine work.
So ‘pang på robata’ – getting straight down to hard work.
Interestingly, the word ‘robata’ is also the origin of the word ‘robot’ – something that does repetitive, routine work.
Watching the Swedes 
Interesting!!