Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
överseende leende
English translation:
indulging smile
Added to glossary by
Deane Goltermann
Dec 13, 2011 21:14
12 yrs ago
Swedish term
överseende leende
Swedish to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Can 'ett överseende leende' be translated into 'a condescending smile'?
Situation
A patient asks a question about his disease to a doctor, who answers with ett överseende leende.
Can 'ett överseende leende' either mean 'an indulgent smile' or 'a condescending smile' depending on the context?
Situation
A patient asks a question about his disease to a doctor, who answers with ett överseende leende.
Can 'ett överseende leende' either mean 'an indulgent smile' or 'a condescending smile' depending on the context?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | indulging smile |
Deane Goltermann
|
| 5 +1 | indulgent smile |
Cynthia Coan
|
| 4 +1 | lenient smile |
Anna Herbst
|
| 4 +1 | patronizing smile |
Sven Petersson
|
| 4 | tolerant/kind/benevolent smile |
Åsa Schoening
|
References
| Smile |
George Hopkins
|
| "Indulgent" definition |
Cynthia Coan
|
Change log
Feb 9, 2014 21:26: Deane Goltermann Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
12 hrs
Deane Goltermann
Sweden
Sweden
Native in Swedish
&
English
Sweden
Easy reading - Good writing
Native in: English 
, Swedish
Works in: Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
70
Selected
indulging smile
A doctor isn't 'lenient' towards their patient, style-wise.
Patronizing is something else entirely-- more like nedlåtande in the dictionary.
The doctor can indulge the patient's worries. Otherwise George's suggestion'understanding' is fine. That is what you would want from a doctor, but depends on this particular person's character.
Patronizing is something else entirely-- more like nedlåtande in the dictionary.
The doctor can indulge the patient's worries. Otherwise George's suggestion'understanding' is fine. That is what you would want from a doctor, but depends on this particular person's character.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Tack!"
+1
19 mins
Anna Herbst
Australia
Australia
Native in Swedish
&
English
Works in field
Australia
When quality matters more
Native in: Swedish , English
Works in: English to Swedish, Swedish to English, Swedish, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
37
lenient smile
There are several possible translations of the adjective "överseende" depending on context. I would most lilkely go with "lenient" in this case.
+1
5 hrs
Sven Petersson
Sweden
Sweden
Native in Swedish
&
English
Sweden
Medical Translator
Native in: Swedish , English
Works in: English to Swedish, Danish to Swedish, German to Swedish, and 13 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
118
patronizing smile
:o)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Linda Larsson (X)
3 hrs
|
|
Thank you very much!
|
|
| neutral |
Anna Herbst
: I hope this is not the case - I would hate to be that doctor's patient...
5 hrs
|
|
I fear your hopes are in vain.
|
15 hrs
Åsa Schoening
United States
United States
Native in Swedish
Works in field
United States
Specializing in Intellectual Property
Native in: Swedish
Works in: Swedish to English, English to Swedish
tolerant/kind/benevolent smile
I don't view "överseende" as implicitly negative. On the contrary, someone who demonstrates "överseende" (as in "han hade överseende med..." shows a certain tolerance or kindness. To me, condescending and patronizing are too strong and too negative. I agree with George Hopkins's view of the doctor as probably wanting to appear more understanding than judgmental.
+1
16 hrs
Cynthia Coan
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Indexing and abstracting services also
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
indulgent smile
Per Norstedts Stora Svensk-Engelska Ordbok.
Reference comments
12 hrs
Reference:
Smile
On the basis of the context I would suggest 'understanding smile'.
The doctor would probably not wish to appear condescending, patronizing, etc.
The doctor would probably not wish to appear condescending, patronizing, etc.
16 hrs
Cynthia Coan
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Indexing and abstracting services also
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
19
Reference:
"Indulgent" definition
"Having or indicating a readiness or overreadiness to be generous to or lenient with someone."
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