Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
de grenslijn tussen .. is nogal vaag
English translation:
there is no clear distinction between..., there is a fine line between ...
Added to glossary by
Antoinette Verburg
Nov 3, 2004 10:15
19 yrs ago
Dutch term
Netherlands
2 MA degrees and 32 years of experience
Native in: Dutch 
Works in: English to Dutch, Dutch
de grenslijn tussen ... is nogal vaag
Non-PRO
Dutch to English
Other
Philosophy
Context is divers, maar in ieder geval gaat het om figuurlijk gebruik, bijv. 'de grenslijn tussen beide begrippen is nogal vaag'.
Ik kom hier allerlei mogelijkheden voor tegen, en zou daarom graag van native speakers horen wat hier nou echt een juiste/mooie Engelse vertaling van is.
Alvast bedankt!
Ik kom hier allerlei mogelijkheden voor tegen, en zou daarom graag van native speakers horen wat hier nou echt een juiste/mooie Engelse vertaling van is.
Alvast bedankt!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +1 | There is no clear distinction |
Tina Vonhof (X)
|
| 4 +4 | fine line |
FionaT
|
| 5 | the border between ... is rather vague |
Ben Hickman
|
Proposed translations
+1
15 hrs
Selected
There is no clear distinction
Je zou het ook kunnen omschrijven:
There is no clear distinction between these two concepts.
There is no clear distinction between these two concepts.
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Hartelijk dank, Tina en anderen. "
1 hr
the border between ... is rather vague
I would write, "The border between these concepts is rather vague."
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ton Remkes
: Even though, perhaps not native!!
12 hrs
|
|
American... not British. But I think the construction is quite acceptable in British English as well.
|
|
| disagree |
sparow
: borderline, surely?
3 days 8 hrs
|
+4
2 hrs
fine line
I would say "There is a fine line between XXX and YYY".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Monica Sandor
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Monica
|
|
| agree |
Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Siobhan
|
|
| agree |
Chris Hopley
2 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Chris
|
|
| agree |
Leo3 (X)
5 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Elona
|
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
6 hrs
|
|
Thanks, Tina
|
|
| disagree |
Ton Remkes
: Simplification!? But who am I between all those 'inboorlingen'?
12 hrs
|
|
Personally, I don't consider it to be more simplified, but then who am I? :-)
|
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| disagree |
Ben Hickman
: This construction suggests (to my American ears) a warning or negative connotation (i.e. There is a fine line between corporal punishment and physical abuse.)
17 hrs
|
|
I agree with you that this construction is particularly useful in a 'warning' context, but to my mind that is not the only context in which it could be used.
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| agree |
Ron Willems
1659 days
|
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