Dec 2, 2003 10:04
20 yrs ago
Dutch term
Client award for reliability
Native in: English 
Works in: Dutch to English, Flemish to English
wat een klootzakken dan
Non-PRO
Dutch to English
Other
The singular/plural mix of this is throwing me. I can't work out whether they are referring to people or a situation (e.g. something like 'what a cock-up')
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +10 | what a (bunch of) |
Chris Hopley
|
| 4 +5 | to people |
Elisabeth Toda-v.Galen
|
| 5 +1 | what *ssholes, then |
SpanTran
|
Proposed translations
+10
22 mins
Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in English
Netherlands
Dutch & German to English
Native in: English (Variants: Canadian, New Zealand, British, UK, Irish, US, Australian)
Works in: German to English, Dutch to English, Flemish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
2117
Dutch term (edited):
wat een + [meervoud]
Selected
what a (bunch of)
Elisabeth's answer is correct, this is just a usage note on the seemingly incongruous combination of singular and plural.
The 'wat een + [meervoud]' is quite a common idiom and can sometimes be translated - as in this case - as 'what a bunch of [jerks]', etc. However, the construction is not only used for expressing derision, but also praise, e.g. 'wat een mooie foto's'.
The 'wat een + [meervoud]' is quite a common idiom and can sometimes be translated - as in this case - as 'what a bunch of [jerks]', etc. However, the construction is not only used for expressing derision, but also praise, e.g. 'wat een mooie foto's'.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
writeaway
: yup. I also think 'what a bunch of jerks' is pretty idiomatic in the context (?).
24 mins
|
| agree |
Stephanie Wloch
: want ik hoor vaak: wat een "stelletje" klojos
37 mins
|
| agree |
Gordon Darroch (X)
: bizarre, but true. In a more innocent context, phrases like "wat een voeten heb je" are routinely directed towards Tante Sidonia in Suske en Wiske
46 mins
|
| agree |
Adela Van Gils
: what a bunch of mother fuckers. Sounds awfull but..
2 hrs
|
|
I say, steady on old bean! You'll give Tante Sidonia a coronary!
|
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| agree |
Berry Prinsen
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Marciam
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Dirk Wouters
6 hrs
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
8 hrs
|
| agree |
Mirjam Bonne-Nollen
11 hrs
|
| agree |
moya
12 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for explaining the wat een + meervoud. Amazingly, not something I'd been aware of before, although no doubt I have heard it being used."
+5
3 mins
to people
the word 'klootzakken' is definitely used for people, a..holes, pr..ks
:-)
if it were a situation, it would just be 'kloten'(situatie)
:-)
if it were a situation, it would just be 'kloten'(situatie)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
jarry (X)
2 mins
|
| agree |
Hans G. Liepert
: toen ik jong was, wisten vrouwen daar helemaal niks van af ;-)
5 mins
|
|
maar vrouwen worden ouder, en leren ze vanzelf :-)
|
|
| agree |
Andre de Vries
: or kluute in Flemish
6 mins
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| agree |
vixen
11 mins
|
| agree |
writeaway
: too bad certain people on the En-Fr site don't put in an appearance. we'd all learn new words, I'm sure.
1 hr
|
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can't figure which people you are talking abt ... :-)
|
+1
6 mins
what *ssholes, then
I would say it is referring to people, and would put "what *ssholes then/in that case" (they won't let me submit the answer without substituting the a by a *, but you know the word I mean!
;-)
Good luck
Hanna
;-)
Good luck
Hanna
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kate Hudson (X)
13 mins
|
Discussion