Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
een kale reis
English translation:
a disappointing/unsuccessful/fruitless trip/journey
Added to glossary by
MoiraB
Mar 25, 2008 12:00
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Dutch term
een kale reis
Dutch to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Rather urgent, as the job is due back by 14.00 CET! Brief summary of a play for a flyer:
Kroum komt na **een kale reis** terug in de verstikkende volkswijk waar hij geboren is. Alles is er bij het oude gebleven: er wordt gegeten en gefeest, getreurd en gedroomd. Met veel weerzin draait Kroum mee in de molen van de middelmatigheid, hoopvol wachtend tot het échte leven begint.
What's the meaning of 'kaal' here? Uneventful??
Kroum komt na **een kale reis** terug in de verstikkende volkswijk waar hij geboren is. Alles is er bij het oude gebleven: er wordt gegeten en gefeest, getreurd en gedroomd. Met veel weerzin draait Kroum mee in de molen van de middelmatigheid, hoopvol wachtend tot het échte leven begint.
What's the meaning of 'kaal' here? Uneventful??
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
23 hrs
Selected
a disappointing trip/journey
Bedoeld wordt dat hij niet gevonden heeft wat hij dacht te vinden (roem, geld, een job, avontuur...).
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Sorry, didn't look under 'reis' in NL-NL vD! Flemish colleagues confirmed that 'na een kale reis thuiskomen/terugkomen' means that 'men het doel dat men voor ogen had niet heeft kunnen bereiken'. I liked Erik's suggestion but since I quoted all the text there was, it raises more questions than it answers really. Ide's option seems closest, or perhaps fruitless/unsuccessful. Definitely not voyage, as that suggests a journey by sea. Thanks, everyone."
3 mins
Etienne Muylle Wallace
Spain
Spain
Native in Dutch
Spain
QUICK SERVICE AND PERSONAL CONTROL
Native in: Dutch 
, French
Works in: French to Catalan, French to Flemish, French to Spanish, and 24 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
a trip or journey without results
van een kale reis terugkeren = to come back without any result or solution, etc
+1
4 mins
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
South Africa
Native in Dutch
&
English
Specializes in field
South Africa
Willing & Ready to be of service to YOU!
Native in: English , Dutch
Works in: Dutch to English, Afrikaans to English, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
15
uneventful / useless trip/voyage
yes
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Mollepootje V. (X)
: I prefer trip ...
5 mins
|
|
Ja kan natturlijk ook. Bedankt
|
+2
4 mins
Erik Boers
Belgium
Belgium
Native in Dutch
Specializes in field
Belgium
Over 35 years of translating experience
Native in: Dutch
Works in: English to Dutch, French to Dutch, Spanish to Dutch, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Dutch term (edited):
van een kale reis terugkomen/thuiskomen
come home empty-handed
If it fits the context...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Suzanne Jansen
51 mins
|
| agree |
Sabine Piens
2 hrs
|
| neutral |
Albert Stufkens
: The purpose or mission of the trip is not a given.
3 hrs
|
|
Maybe it is mentioned in the previous sentence (if there is one).
|
-1
3 hrs
Albert Stufkens
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
&
English
Netherlands
Translation Facilitates Communication
Native in: Dutch (Variant: Netherlands) , English (Variant: British)
Works in: Dutch to English, English to Dutch
a basic trip
A trip without any luxury or special comforts.
Just functional from A to B.
Just functional from A to B.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Suzanne Jansen
: This phrase has a very specific meaning; see Van Dale NL-NL under 'reis' and above.
2 hrs
|
|
I wish I could follow what you mean. What is then the specific meaning?? Is it not about moving from one point to another? I did scrutinize Van Dale NL-NL!
|
4 hrs
a boring , unexciting trip
kaal: with nothing to it
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