ראש קטן, להקטין ראש

English translation: does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Hebrew term or phrase:ראש קטן, להקטין ראש
English translation:does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility
Entered by: Mary Jane Shubow

11:32 Feb 11, 2013
Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
Slang / general
Hebrew term or phrase: ראש קטן, להקטין ראש
לאור הביקורת החליט העובד להיות ראש קטן (או להקטין ראש) ו...
shmoopy
does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility
Explanation:
There is no perfect match. Things that come to mind, keeps a low profile, takes a back seat, lies low, does not volunteer, does not go out of his/her way, does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility
Selected response from:

Mary Jane Shubow
United States
Local time: 22:45
Grading comment
thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5Jobsworth (British English); a person who does his job literally without taking initiative
jotranslator
4does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility
Mary Jane Shubow
4 -2narrow-minded
Gad Kohenov


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Jobsworth (British English); a person who does his job literally without taking initiative


Explanation:
Common slang word - opposite is "Rosh Gadol".

jotranslator
Israel
Local time: 08:45
Native speaker of: English
Notes to answerer
Asker: thanks!

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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility


Explanation:
There is no perfect match. Things that come to mind, keeps a low profile, takes a back seat, lies low, does not volunteer, does not go out of his/her way, does the minimum required, shirks resonsibility

Mary Jane Shubow
United States
Local time: 22:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
narrow-minded


Explanation:
ראש קטן
עושה רק מה שאומרים לו, חסר עניין, "ראש נצנץ"
נצעץ זה בסלנג הצבאי

ההיפך הוא אכן ראש גדול

ראש גדול
אחראי, רציני, לקח את העניינים לידיים



ראש גדול
responsible, resourceful, able to take charge








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Note added at 2 hrs (2013-02-11 13:42:56 GMT)
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https://www.safa-ivrit.org/dialects/army.php
הנה מילון שלם של ביטויים צה"ליים


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Note added at 4 days (2013-02-16 09:07:30 GMT) Post-grading
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נצנץ זה ראש קטן גם לפי בבילון

: נצנץ
(ז') מהבהב, פנס איתות, מכשיר ליצירת הבזקי אור; עיגול מתכת נוצץ, דסקית קישוט קטנה; ראש קטן (סלנג). ח

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 08:45
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Debbie Nevo: narrow-minded doesnt mean the same as rosh katan
23 mins

disagree  Yael Cahane-Shadmi: sorry, but narrow minded is צר אופקים. "Rosh katan" is someone who would do exactly what they're supposed to, without bothering to take initiative when possible or when needed.
57 mins
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