Icelandic

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Etymology

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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

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svínvirka

  1. to work like a charm, to work very well (for solving an issue)
    Takk, þetta svínvirkar.Thanks, works like a charm.