Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
en gammal räv
English translation:
a wily (old) bird
Added to glossary by
Tara Chace
Mar 30, 2009 22:58
15 yrs ago
Swedish term
United States
Reliable quality, attention to detail
Native in: English
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English
räv
Swedish to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
This is from a novel. What are they implying with "räv" in the following section. In English being a "fox" would mean that he's good looking. What does it imply in Swedish?
Vi har ytterligare en kollega. Lars Wanzelius, en gammal räv som arbetat som terapeut i över tjugo år.
Vi har ytterligare en kollega. Lars Wanzelius, en gammal räv som arbetat som terapeut i över tjugo år.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +4 | a wily (old) bird |
e-beth (X)
|
| 5 | sly, cunning |
Aliaksandr Lukavenkau
|
| 4 | a sly old fox |
Diarmuid Kennan
|
Proposed translations
+4
22 mins
Selected
a wily (old) bird
I think the connotation here is positive.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
De Novi
: Yep, I agree 100%
16 mins
|
|
Thanks:-)
|
|
| agree |
Anna Herbst
38 mins
|
|
Thanks:-)
|
|
| agree |
Gayle Rolando (X)
6 hrs
|
|
Thanks:-)
|
|
| agree |
SwedEng (X)
13 hrs
|
|
Thanks:-)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
3 mins
Aliaksandr Lukavenkau
Test_it!!
Native in: Belarusian 
, Russian
Works in: Belarusian to Swedish, Swedish to Belarusian, Swedish to Russian, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
sly, cunning
this is the way they are
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Note added at 10 мин (2009-03-30 23:08:42 GMT)
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also as an expression:
a crafty devil; a deep file; an old dodger, downy old bird, rat-face AND THE LIKE
Although if it is a positive feature, then he should be called:
1. a knowing old bird / an old hand at /
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 мин (2009-03-30 23:08:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
also as an expression:
a crafty devil; a deep file; an old dodger, downy old bird, rat-face AND THE LIKE
Although if it is a positive feature, then he should be called:
1. a knowing old bird / an old hand at /
Note from asker:
| Thanks! |
7 hrs
Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Ireland
Native in English
Works in field
Ireland
Reliable and accurate
Native in: English 
Works in: Danish to English, Norwegian to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
a sly old fox
standard expression in English
Note from asker:
| Thanks! |
Discussion
I think it means that he has been around for a long time, has seen a lot in the field, has a lot of experience of how things work, knows how to get things done and get around things/problems; knows about the people in various related institutions/authorities/organizations, what they are like, and how to deal with them.
If the people in your novel would be involved e.g. in a bitter labor struggle, the implication would be that Lars would be a great resource, someone who would know what is to likely to happen, how to prepare for that, what to do, and so on