pitää meteliä
Lemma: pitää meteliä
Translation: to make noise; to cause a commotion; to kick up a fuss; to make a racket (phrase)
Etymology: This Finnish phrase combines 'pitää' (to keep, to hold, to maintain) with 'meteliä' (the partitive case of 'meteli', meaning noise or commotion). 'Meteli' likely derives from Swedish 'metel' (uproar, commotion). The construction follows a common Finnish pattern where 'pitää' + partitive noun creates expressions about producing or maintaining something.
Example Usage
Naapurit pitivät meteliä koko yön.
The neighbors made noise all night.
Älä pidä niin paljon meteliä pienestä asiasta.
Don't make such a fuss about a small matter.
Lapset pitävät meteliä pihalla.
The children are making a racket in the yard.
Media piti meteliä uudesta skandaalista.
The media kicked up a fuss about the new scandal.
Mnemonics
- Think of 'pitää' as 'to keep' and 'meteliä' as 'meteor-like' - keeping a meteor-like commotion.
- Imagine someone 'pitching' (pitää) a 'metal' (meteli) object to make noise.
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This phrase is commonly used in Finnish to describe situations where someone is being unnecessarily loud or making a fuss about something. It can be used both literally (about actual noise) and figuratively (about causing a commotion or drawing attention to an issue).
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While very similar in meaning, 'pitää melua' is slightly less common than 'pitää meteliä'. Both refer to making noise or causing a commotion.
Notes: These phrases are often interchangeable in many contexts.
Mnemonic: 'Meteliä' sounds more metallic and harsh, like clanging noise, while 'melua' sounds softer.
Explanation: While both phrases start with 'pitää', 'pitää hauskaa' means 'to have fun' or 'to enjoy oneself', which is quite different from making noise.
This word:
Älä pidä meteliä, ihmiset yrittävät nukkua.
Don't make noise, people are trying to sleep.
Confused word:
Pidimme hauskaa juhlissa.
We had fun at the party.
Notes: These phrases have completely different meanings despite sharing the verb 'pitää'.
Mnemonic: 'Hauskaa' sounds like 'house-ka' - having fun in the house; 'meteliä' sounds like 'metal' - making metallic noise.