Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
sitta på två stolar
English translation:
a foot in both camps
Added to glossary by
Helen Johnson
Sep 6, 2011 15:20
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Swedish term
United Kingdom
Taught MA translation at Uni of Surrey
Native in: English 
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English
sitta på två stolar
Swedish to English
Other
Slang
proverb/metaphorical language use
If someone "sittar på två stolar", what is the equivalent of this in English please? It doesn't quite seem to be the same as "falling between two stools" where someone just can't choose between 2 alternatives. It sounds as though someone is reaping the benefits of 2 situations but I can't think of an equivalent metaphor in English. If I've understood it correctly I can always not worry about using a metaphor.
TIA
TIA
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | a foot in both camps/playing one off against the middle |
Ian Bradburn
|
| 4 +5 | wearing two hats |
Larry Abramson
|
| 5 +1 | sitting on two chairs |
George Hopkins
|
| 3 | sitting on the fence |
Diarmuid Kennan
|
Proposed translations
25 mins
Ian Bradburn
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
25 Years of Translation Excellence
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US, British)
Works in: Swedish to English, Norwegian (Bokmal) to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
2
Selected
a foot in both camps/playing one off against the middle
Could either of these be what you're thinking of Helen?
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks, Ian"
+1
24 mins
sitting on two chairs
Try Google...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Linda Larsson (X)
: This one sounds right to me. Sitting on two chairs as in benefitting from both even though it may not be ethical.
2 hrs
|
|
Thank you Linda.
|
1 hr
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
sitting on the fence
this is how I understand it
+5
1 hr
Larry Abramson
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Use the Asian advantage (US lawyer&team)
Native in: English
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
wearing two hats
Both these expressions mean occupying two offices, positions, etc.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tania McConaghy
4 mins
|
| agree |
Linnéa Holmén
2 hrs
|
| agree |
TroyTempest
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Sven Petersson
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Johanna Liljenzin
19 hrs
|
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