strök längs väggarna

English translation: stayed on the sidelines

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Swedish term or phrase:strök längs väggarna
English translation:stayed on the sidelines
Entered by: Helen Johnson

08:15 Jan 27, 2010
Swedish to English translations [Non-PRO]
Slang / expression??
Swedish term or phrase: strök längs väggarna
If someone was "skygg" and "strök längs väggarna", how would you describe the latter part in English please?
Shy/timed and ???
TIA
Helen Johnson
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:30
stayed on the sidelines
Explanation:
When I was a child I was very timid & stayed on the sidelines too. Glad you & I managed to branch out a bit!
tblads.blogspot.com/2009/.../photostory-friday-in-with-both-feet.html

My older son was very shy and always held back, stayed on the sidelines.
www.askmehelpdesk.com/.../what-about-being-bored-136005-2.h...
Selected response from:

Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 02:30
Grading comment
I wondered about "furtive" but that's not what you'd expect with timid. I'll go with this - thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3moved in the shadows
Sven Petersson
3stayed on the sidelines
Michele Fauble


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
moved in the shadows


Explanation:
:o)

Sven Petersson
Sweden
Local time: 10:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Michele Fauble: Not sure if this goes with shy/timid. For me "moving in the shadows" has a connotation of shadiness of character.
10 hrs
  -> It all depends on the wider context.
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
stayed on the sidelines


Explanation:
When I was a child I was very timid & stayed on the sidelines too. Glad you & I managed to branch out a bit!
tblads.blogspot.com/2009/.../photostory-friday-in-with-both-feet.html

My older son was very shy and always held back, stayed on the sidelines.
www.askmehelpdesk.com/.../what-about-being-bored-136005-2.h...


Michele Fauble
United States
Local time: 02:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
I wondered about "furtive" but that's not what you'd expect with timid. I'll go with this - thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Sven Petersson: The word "strök" does imply moving at low speed.
1 hr
  -> Yes, but no more relevant here than that "väggarna" means "the walls".
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