gå som katten kring het gröt
Swedish
editEtymology
editThe literal meaning is "to walk like the cat around hot porridge". The first attestation is from 1641 (see reference to Svenska Akademiens ordbok below). Compare with expressions like vara heta på gröten, "to be eager/impatient about something" (literally: "to be hot on the porridge").
Pronunciation
editPhrase
edit- (idiomatic) To avoid speaking or acting directly about something; to beat around the bush; to pussyfoot.
- 1641, Svenska riksrådets protokoll[1]
- I gå som een katt kring om gröten.
- Ye walk like a cat around the porridge.
- 1641, Svenska riksrådets protokoll[1]
Usage notes
editThe head of the expression is gå, "walk". Gå can also be exchanged for verbs like smyga ("to sneak; to creep") or tassa ("to tip-toe"). It's also possible to render it without an active verb in sentences like Hon var som katten kring het gröt, literally: "she was like the cat around hot porridge".
Conjugation
editSee gå.