This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Dutch to English
  3. Other

toch in de lucht overvallen

English translation: comment

09:48 Apr 16, 2008
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Other
Dutch term or phrase: toch in de lucht overvallen
I am having trouble getting the following sentence to sound right:

"De dood heeft de excentrieke multi-miljonair Howard Hughes tenslotte toch in de lucht overvallen, nadat hij vier maal een ernstig vliegtuigongeluk had overleefd."

It is the 'toch in de lucht overvallen' phrase that I need help with.

For the moment I have translated it as: "After surviving four serious plane accidents, death finally caught up with the eccentric multi millionaire Howard Hughes in the air."

Thanks,
Naomi
Naomi Portnoy
Local time: 13:31
English translation:comment
Explanation:
You don't say whether the 'toch' might reference a previous part of the text. If it doesn't, IMO your translation is not bad but it suffers from the common grammatical error of the misplaced modifier (the initial phrase formally modifies 'death'). A better wording would be 'After surviving four serious airplane accidents, the eccentric multi-millionaire Howard Hughes finally met his death in the air'. You might also say '... met his death - ironically - in the air' if it fits the general context.
Selected response from:

Ken Cox
Local time: 13:31
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!

Naomi
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4comment
Ken Cox


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
comment


Explanation:
You don't say whether the 'toch' might reference a previous part of the text. If it doesn't, IMO your translation is not bad but it suffers from the common grammatical error of the misplaced modifier (the initial phrase formally modifies 'death'). A better wording would be 'After surviving four serious airplane accidents, the eccentric multi-millionaire Howard Hughes finally met his death in the air'. You might also say '... met his death - ironically - in the air' if it fits the general context.

Ken Cox
Local time: 13:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 37
Grading comment
Thank you for your help!

Naomi
Notes to answerer
Asker: This was the first sentence in the text - so no reference to a previous part. Thanks for your help! Naomi


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: tbere is a lot of good reference material about Howard Hughes on the www. a bit of research is all it takes. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard_Hughes#Death_and_burial
1 hr
agree  Kitty Brussaard
2 hrs
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): Agree with the wording suggested.
5 hrs
agree  bertvandermoer: but would have used 'eventually' i.o. finally
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search