ana ugglor i mossen

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Swedish

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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Partly a corruption of the Danish expression ugler i mosen (owls in the marshes) which hints of dangers ahead. Literally, “To sense owls in the marsh.”

Verb

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ana ugglor i mossen (present anar ugglor i mossen, preterite anade ugglor i mossen, supine anat ugglor i mossen, imperative ana ugglor i mossen)

  1. (idiomatic) to smell a rat; to have suspicions that everything is not quite alright and that there may be more to it than meets the eye.
    • 1876 March 18, “Tittskåp [Diorama]”, in Halland, page 3:
      Uugerſvennen ville partout gifta ſig i rappet och for till Getapulien för att tjena pengar, ſom tillsammans med den ſtora förmögenheten i Göteborg kunde bli en rätt vacker grundplåt, tyckte han. Men hur det var, så började han också ana ugglor i mosſen, ſedan den kärleken hade koſtat honom åtskilligt, och ſå var hon af med den fäſtmannen ockſå.
      The young bachelor, insistent on marrying in haste, set forth to Goatswallow to earn his fortune, believing that combined with the grand wealth in Gothenburg, it could form a rather handsome foundation. Yet, as matters progressed, he began to sense there was something amiss, for love had already cost him dearly. Thus, she soon found herself rid of yet another suitor.
    • 2014 February 16, Mikael Hellmyrs, “Kommunen har tröttnat på gnagande bävrar [The municipality has grown tired of gnawing beavers.]”, in Länstidningen Södertälje:
      När dagvattnet svämmade över började kommunen ana ugglor i mossen - eller snarare bävrar i vattnet. Länsstyrelsen ger nu kommunen klartecken för att riva en bäverdamm
      When the stormwater overflowed, the municipality began to suspect something was amiss - or rather, beavers in the water. The County Administrative Board has now given the municipality the green light to dismantle a beaver dam.
    • 2024 February 4, “Bedrägeriförsöket jag råkade ut för [The fraud attempt I encountered]”, in Karlavagnen, Sveriges Radio:
      Vad hände när bedragaren ringde och lyckades manipulera dig till att lämna ut dina uppgifter och stjäla dina pengar? Eller vad fick dig att börja ana ugglor i mossen och stoppa bedrägeriförsöket?
      What happened when the scammer called and managed to manipulate you into giving up your information and stealing your money? Or what made you start to suspect something was wrong and stop the fraud attempt?

See also

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References

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