IdiomDaily Life
Swedish
Swedishvända kappan efter vinden
Meaning: To change one's allegiance or principles opportunistically depending on circumstances.
Literally: To turn one's cloak according to the wind
Example: “Han vänder kappan efter vinden och röstar med majoriteten.” — He blows hot and cold and votes with the majority.
English equivalent: To blow hot and cold
Equivalents in other languages
French: Être une girouette Literally: To be a weather vane
Slovak: Kam vietor, tam plášť Literally: Where the wind blows, there the cloak
English: blow hot and cold
Origin: A traveler turns his cloak to keep off the wind from whichever side it blows. Turning one's cloak with the wind is changing opinions to suit whoever is in power. German has the same image, den Mantel nach dem Wind hängen, and both are old; no first Swedish use is documented.
More Swedish idioms
- gräva sin egen grav To cause one's own ruin or downfall through foolish actions.
- inte göra en fluga förnär To be harmless and gentle, incapable of hurting even the smallest creature.
- som vatten på en gås Something that has no effect or makes no impression, sliding off harmlessly.
- lysa med lånta fjädrar To present oneself falsely by adopting the qualities, accomplishments, or possessions of…
- så till den milda grad To such an extent; to a remarkable or extreme degree, often used ironically.
- lika som bär Identical or nearly identical to each other in appearance or character.
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