svansa

Swedish

Etymology

svans (“tail”) +‎ -a

Verb

svansa (present svansar, preterite svansade, supine svansat, imperative svansa)

  1. to run around and wag one's tail (in an ingratiating manner)
  2. (derogatory, figuratively) to fawn, to cringe, to kowtow
    svansa för chefen
    kowtow to the boss

Usage notes

Usually figuratively.

Conjugation

Conjugation of svansa (weak)
active passive
infinitive svansa svansas
supine svansat svansats
imperative svansa —
imper. plural1 svansen —
present past present past
indicative svansar svansade svansas svansades
ind. plural1 svansa svansade svansas svansades
subjunctive2 svanse svansade svanses svansades
present participle svansande
past participle —

1 Archaic. 2 Dated. See the appendix on Swedish verbs.

References

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