This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Swedish to English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

att bita i det sura äpplet

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Swedish term or phrase:att bita i det sura äpplet
English translation:to swallow the bitter pill of failure, to bite into the sour apple, to bite the bullet
Entered by: Elena_S15

16:39 Jan 1, 2005
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Swedish to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Swedish term or phrase: att bita i det sura äpplet
Context - text from the course in Sales Techniques:

Det är alltid så att vissa försäljare lyckas bättre än andra. Vissa får smaka på framgångens saft, medan andra får bita i det sura äpplet.
Elena_S15


Summary of answers provided
5 +2bite into the sour apple
Robb Kvasnak
4 +3bite the dust
EKM


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
att bita i det sura äpplet
bite into the sour apple


Explanation:
bite into the sour apple = bite the bullet
to bite into the sour apple in Swedish refers to having to accept something that is unpleasant.

Robb Kvasnak

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jørgen Madsen: "bite the bullet" is right
11 mins
agree  Lisa Frideborg Eddy (X): bite the bullet
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
att bita i det sura äpplet
bite the dust


Explanation:
works better in this context. Norstedts gives (approx.) swallow the bitter pill, but in a competitive context, "bite the dust" sounds better.

EKM
Sweden
Local time: 23:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Peter Linton (X): I prefer "swallow the bitter pill of failure", because "bite the dust" is to me a bit too strong - it's what you do in a Wild West film after you've been shot.
1 hr
agree  Tess Whitty
4 hrs
agree  David Shannon: Agree completely with Peter Linton's response - "swallow the bitter pill of failure" - 'bite the dust' doesn't quite do it for me in this context
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search