Re: They Have a Word for It!

John Cowan wrote:

> J Matthew Pearson wrote:
>
> > My favourite 'untranslatable' Swedish word is _fika_, a verb, meaning roughly
> > "to chat with friends over a cup of coffee" (right, Daniel?).  When I was an
> > exchange student in Sweden, we used _fika_ all the time, even when we were
> > speaking English ("You wanna go _fika_?").  Such a useful word.
>
> Wudda deprived Westerner.  All New Yorkers know that the English for
> _fika_ is "shmooze".
We have that word out here in California, but it means "to socialise informally
with colleagues, business connections, potential clients, or people of influence,
with the aim of furthering one's career or enhancing one's social standing".
Shmoozing is like networking, but with more small talk.

Anyhow, a crucial part of the meaning of _fika_ is that coffee (or at least tea)
must be served.  I don't think that's integral to the meaning of "shmooze", is it?

Matt.

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