"Så stor släkt trodde jag aldrig jag hade, sa fan om länsmannen."
In English: "When the cat's away, the mice will play. Wait, that is incorrect. The meaning described is about people suddenly wanting to be associated with a powerful person when they appear. The correct idiom is: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. No, that is also incorrect. Let me reconsider. The description is: "When a powerful or influential person appears, everyone suddenly wants to be acquainted or related to him." The correct idiom is: Everyone"
Word-for-word translation
"So much family I never thought I had, said the devil about the bailiff."
English equivalent
"When the cat's away, the mice will play. Wait, that is incorrect. The meaning described is about people suddenly wanting to be associated with a powerful person when they appear. The correct idiom is: When the going gets tough, the tough get going. No, that is also incorrect. Let me reconsider. The description is: "When a powerful or influential person appears, everyone suddenly wants to be acquainted or related to him." The correct idiom is: Everyone"
Functional equivalent
The English expression conveys the same meaning but uses different imagery.
What does "Så stor släkt trodde jag aldrig jag hade, sa fan om länsmannen." mean?
När någon mäktig eller inflytelserik person dyker upp, vill plötsligt alla vara bekant eller släkt med honom.
Usage example (in Swedish)
När den rike affärsmannen kom till byn sa alla plötsligt att han var en långsam släkting – så stor släkt trodde vi aldrig vi hade!
When to use it
Works when
När en mäktig eller inflytelserik person dyker upp och folk plötsligt vill vara bekanta.
Doesn't work when
När ingen inflytelserik person är närvarande eller folk redan är ärliga om relationer.
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