IdiomDaily Life
Swedish
SwedishAtt sätta sig på tvären
Meaning: To be obstinate and refuse to cooperate.
Literally: To sit down crosswise
Example: “Grannen satte sig på tvären och vägrade skriva under.” — The neighbor dug his heels in and refused to sign.
English equivalent: To dig one's heels in
Origin: På tvären is crosswise. Someone who sits down across the way blocks it, like a log lying across a path or a stubborn animal planting itself sideways. The phrase means digging in one's heels and refusing to go along. No particular story lies behind it.
Equivalents in other languages
Hungarian: Nem enged a negyvennyolcból Literally: He won't budge from the forty-eight
English: dig one's heels in
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