Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Swedish term or phrase:
ge svar på tal
English translation:
to give as good as you get
Added to glossary by
stephen mewes
May 19, 2006 05:00
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Swedish term
United Kingdom
MA, BA, 20 years' freelance experience
Native in: English
Works in: Swedish to English, Danish to English, Norwegian to English
ge svar på tal
Swedish to English
Other
Other
xxx ger svar på tal Men xxx företrädare stod inte med händerna i kors och tittade på medan konkurrenten var på besök
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +7 | to give as good as you get |
Kathy Saranpa
|
| 4 | retort |
Lars Jelking
|
| 4 | give (a person) tit for tat |
Eva-Marie Adams
|
Proposed translations
+7
47 mins
Kathy Saranpa
Finland
Finland
Native in English
Finland
Yale PhD, legal/medical spec.
Native in: English 
Works in: Swedish to English, Finnish to English, German to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
3
Selected
to give as good as you get
this is less formal and seems to fit better here
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
21 mins
Lars Jelking
Israel
Israel
Native in Swedish
Israel
For professionals by professionals.
Native in: Swedish
Works in: English to Swedish, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
24
retort
The phrase is considered to express a somewhat sour answer. Retort seems to fit nicely.
1 hr
Eva-Marie Adams
Native in Swedish
professional- proof reading included!
Native in: Swedish
Works in: English to Swedish, Swedish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
9
give (a person) tit for tat
another way of saying it in english is to give someone tit for tat.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-05-19 06:33:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Why is retribution or a fair exchange "tit for tat"?
Both tit and tat are archaic words meaning 'a light blow'. The entire expression thus means 'a blow for a blow', like 'an eye for an eye'. Both words were used as verbs, too
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-05-19 06:33:38 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Why is retribution or a fair exchange "tit for tat"?
Both tit and tat are archaic words meaning 'a light blow'. The entire expression thus means 'a blow for a blow', like 'an eye for an eye'. Both words were used as verbs, too
Something went wrong...