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. Management

gnetande - in a positive sense

English translation: nitpicking (looking for trouble to sort out)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Swedish term or phrase:gnetande - in a positive sense
English translation:nitpicking (looking for trouble to sort out)
Entered by: Christine Andersen

12:46 Jun 25, 2008
Swedish to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Management / company strategy
Swedish term or phrase: gnetande - in a positive sense
"...vägen till ytterligare framgångar går genom att sätta kunden än mer i centrum än tidigare. Att vara medveten om kundens krav, kanske krav som kunden själv inte vet om.
Det finns ett gammalt svenskt ord; **gnetande,** som passar bra. Det handlar om uppsökande verksamhet hos kunden, lösa vardagsproblem och vara med och offerera... skapa tillväxt både hos kunden och för oss."

I don't get a positive image with *gnetande* - more of a fusspot, or someone pinching and scraping.

I could perhaps make 'a stickler for details' fit the context. Simply 'attention to details' is not really strong enough.

What is meant is a company strategy of finding those little details that make all the difference between good enough and really brilliant. I have already used 'meticulous', and in fact this is heavy industry, (welding), so ideally I need an element of power in the fine adjustments.

Grateful for any suggestions!
Christine Andersen
Denmark
Local time: 20:22
nitpicking
Explanation:
This is not a particularly positive term - but it has the same basic meaning (gnet = nit)
Otherwise maybe something like "careful attention to detail" would work.
Selected response from:

Ingrid Abramson
Local time: 20:22
Grading comment
Actually, this was the suggestion that came closest! I turned it around to 'nitpicking on the customer's behalf', and actually wrote 'looking for trouble (to sort out'). 'The tiny details' are a major theme in this text, and this worked quite well.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3keeping at it
George Hopkins
4stick-to-it-iveness
asptech
3ensuring every detail/aspect comes together smoothly
Dave 72
3exacting
Lovetranslation
3 -1nitpicking
Ingrid Abramson


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
nitpicking


Explanation:
This is not a particularly positive term - but it has the same basic meaning (gnet = nit)
Otherwise maybe something like "careful attention to detail" would work.


Ingrid Abramson
Local time: 20:22
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Swedish
PRO pts in category: 3
Grading comment
Actually, this was the suggestion that came closest! I turned it around to 'nitpicking on the customer's behalf', and actually wrote 'looking for trouble (to sort out'). 'The tiny details' are a major theme in this text, and this worked quite well.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  George Hopkins: nit-picking: a concern with insignificant details, esp. with the intention of finding fault. (Collins).
24 mins
  -> I suppose - but really, that is more or less the meaning of the Swedish term as well. I like your suggestion, though :)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
ensuring every detail/aspect comes together smoothly


Explanation:
Going with the welding/joining metaphor maybe?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2008-06-25 12:59:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or "seamlessly" instead of "smoothly"- has more to do with welding!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2008-06-25 13:02:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or that all aspects are "covered seamlessly" (more welding)

Dave 72
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:22
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
keeping at it


Explanation:
Or perhaps: being keen.

George Hopkins
Local time: 20:22
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  De Novi
56 mins
  -> Thank you Zanne.
agree  Ingrid Abramson: Being keen is good.
1 hr
  -> Thank you Ingrid.
agree  Peter Johansson (X)
8 hrs
  -> Thank you Peter.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
stick-to-it-iveness


Explanation:
"gnetande" is not an old expression, it has come into vogue during the last 30 years or so, and of course it means that you have to keep pushing in order to get what you want.

asptech
Local time: 20:22
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks - I really liked this one too!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
exacting


Explanation:
a strategy of being exacting with regards to....

seems dynamic, forceful.... appropriate with regards to a company

Lovetranslation
Sweden
Local time: 20:22
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
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