svínvirka

Icelandic

Etymology

Composed of svín- +‎ virka. Although the literal meaning is “works like a pig”, “svín-” is here a prefix that is used for emphasis, a practice borrowed from Danish svine- (e.g. svineheld). Compare also German Schweine- (e.g. schweinekalt (“very cold”)) and other prefixes such as Icelandic hundleiðinlegur.

Verb

svínvirka

1. to work like a charm, to work very well (for solving an issue)

   Takk, þetta svínvirkar. ― Thanks, works like a charm.