bjørnetjeneste

bjørn (“bear”) +‎ tjeneste (“service”), with reference to The Bear and the Gardener, in which a bear inadvertently kills his friend when trying to keep away flies.

The second sense is attested since 1992, and might be an allusion to the size and (perceived kind) disposition of a bear.^[1]

bjørnetjeneste c (singular definite bjørnetjenesten, plural indefinite bjørnetjenester)

1. A well-intentioned disservice.
2. (proscribed, rare) A very great service.

2. “bjørnetjeneste” in Den Danske Ordbog

From bjørn +‎ -e- +‎ tjeneste, after a French fable; compare with German Bärendienst.

bjørnetjeneste m (definite singular bjørnetjenesten, indefinite plural bjørnetjenester, definite plural bjørnetjenestene)

1. a disservice, meant for somebody's good
2. an unintentional ill turn

• bjørnetenest, bjørneteneste (Nynorsk)

• “bjørnetjeneste” in The Bokmål Dictionary.
• “bjørnetjeneste” in Det Norske Akademis ordbok (NAOB).