en knäpp på näsan

Swedish

Etymology

en (a) + knäpp (flick) + (on) + näsan (the nose)

Noun

en knäpp näsan c

  1. (idiomatic, figuratively) a short, sharp reprimand, a flick on the nose
    ge någon en knäpp på näsan
    give someone a flick on the nose (reprimand someone)
  2. (idiomatic, figuratively) taking someone down a peg or the like
    Med sitt polemiska tal ville han ge snobbarna en knäpp på näsan
    With his polemic speech, he wanted to take the snobs down a peg

Usage notes

Sometimes also as "knäppa någon på näsan" (flick someone's nose).

See also

References

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