ryste ud af ærmet

Danish

Etymology

Literally "to shake out of the sleeve". Possibly a reference to magic tricks in which the performer moves some item from the sleeve to the palm. Presumably related to German aus dem Ärmel schütteln and Dutch uit de mouw schudden.

Verb

ryste ud af ærmet (imperative ryst ud af ærmet, infinitive at ryste ud af ærmet, present tense ryster ud af ærmet, past tense rystede ud af ærmet, perfect tense har rystet ud af ærmet)

1. To mention or produce quickly and easily.
   • 2010, Preben Stuer Lauridsen, Sol til mørke, BoD – Books on Demand, →ISBN, page 71:

     Formentlig prøvede han at få et af de pædagogiske skriftsteder frem, han var kendt for under normale omstændigheder at kunne ryste ud af ærmet.

     He was, presumably, attempting to utter some pedagogical quote as those which he was known for being able to produce on the spot.

   • 2011, Maria Helleberg, Vilde kvinder, milde kvinder, Rosinante & Co, →ISBN:

     Hun skrev digte, men regnede det ikke for noget, den slags burde enhver veluddannet dame kunne ryste ud af ærmet.

     She wrote poems, but thought nothing of this; any well-educated lady should be able to do that sort of thing easily.

   • 2007, Majbritte Ulrikkeholm, Hannas have og andre fortællinger, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN, page 7:

     Som sanger har jeg altid haft en sang, jeg lige kunne ryste ud af ærmet, mens romanforfatteren stod ved siden af og så misundeligt til.

     As a singer, I've also had a song ready, while the novelist enviously looked on.

   • 2003, Helle Hvass, Seminarieserien. Retorik, Gyldendal Uddannelse, →ISBN, page 47:

     Talemåder som „bare sig det som det er" og „du skal bare sige hvad du selv mener" får os til at tro at budskaber er noget man bare kan ryste ud af ærmet.

     Expressions such as „just say it as it is" and „just say what you think" make us believe that messages are things that may be communicated just like that.