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kall om magen

English translation: have a cold belly

05:25 May 25, 2009
Swedish to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Tove Janssons Kometen kommer
Swedish term or phrase: kall om magen
(Det gäller Bisamråttan vars hus har gått sönder och nu dricker han kaffe hos Muminfamiljen. Tidigare i texten säger han: "För en filosof är det alldeles detsamma om han lever eller dör men efter den här förkylningen är det mycket osäkert hur det ska gå med mig...")

"Nu känns det bättre. Den stora undergången bekymrar mig inte så mycket men på något sätt vill man inte vara kall om magen när man går under".

Senare förklarar Muminmamman för Mumintrollet:
"Bisamråttan var nog bara lite upprörd, förklarade Muminmamman. Det blir man om ens hus har gått sönder och man är kall om magen."

Hur bör jag alltså tolka "kall om magen"? Är det bokstavligt menat - att han fryser om magen eftersom han är förkyld - eller syftar det på något annat?
A. Petrunova
Bulgaria
Local time: 06:29
English translation:have a cold belly
Explanation:
Det finns inga "underförstådda budskap" i uttrycket - det är trots allt en barnbok om än på en hög nivå.
Selected response from:

asptech
Local time: 05:29
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4have a cold belly
asptech
4 +1have a cold tummy
Anna Herbst


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
have a cold belly


Explanation:
Det finns inga "underförstådda budskap" i uttrycket - det är trots allt en barnbok om än på en hög nivå.

asptech
Local time: 05:29
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  George Hopkins: Perhaps, 'cold tummy' in a children's book.
49 mins
  -> As I noted, the literary level is rather high even if it is a "fairy-tale", and "child language" is not used elsewhere in the book.
agree  Hugh Curtis
54 mins
agree  De Novi
6 hrs
agree  amgt
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
have a cold tummy


Explanation:
I agree with asptech's explanation but would choose "tummy" for a children's book

Anna Herbst
Australia
Local time: 13:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 37

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tania McConaghy
4 mins
  -> Tack Tania!
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