https://www.proz.com/kudoz/norwegian-to-english/general-conversation-greetings-letters/6100613-gruff.html
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m.a.f
May 1, 2016 12:24
8 yrs ago
Norwegian term

gruff

Norwegian to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
«Ali Kaffe kurerer gruff».
Slagordet fra syttitallet pryder fortsatt pappkassene
Proposed translations (English)
4 dregs

Discussion

Christine Andersen May 2, 2016:
helps when you´re getting nowhere With credits to Bernard Cribbins & co

http://www.traditionalmusic.co.uk/folk-song-lyrics/Right_Sai...
Anne Parelius May 2, 2016:
Dessuten har vi ordet 'gruff' på engelsk, som betyr nøyaktig det samme som på norsk. Kanskje det kommer derfra?
Leif Henriksen May 1, 2016:
You could of course look it up yourself in Bokmålsordboken: http://www.nob-ordbok.uio.no/perl/ordbok.cgi?OPP=gruff
Leif Henriksen May 1, 2016:
Ths word was invented for this particular campaign during the seventies, yes. By combining the words gru and uff, it gives a good phonetic impression of any and all kinds of inconveniences and annoyances.

Proposed translations

1 day 3 hrs
Selected

dregs

While the term "gruff" is an artificially created portmanteau for marketing purposes, between the 'unpleasant coffee grounds' connotation and the 'inconvenience and annoyance' connotation you might be able to use 'dregs', depending on the context.

Both 'gruff' and 'dregs' are used about the last bit of coffee and grounds in your cup, AND about something unpleasant you'd rather do without.
Example sentence:

Ali Coffee: Removes the dregs from your life

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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Nice one"