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. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

wassen neus

English translation: hollow, purposeless, aimless, meaningless, (remain) dead letter

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:wassen neus
English translation:hollow, purposeless, aimless, meaningless, (remain) dead letter
Entered by: Hans Geluk

22:32 Dec 13, 2014
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / general expression used in legal context
Dutch term or phrase: wassen neus
Zou de Beschikking wel vertrouwelijk zijn, maar eventuele daarachter liggende documenten niet, dan zou het verbod van openbaarmaking een wassen neus zijn en strijden met de achterliggende ratio van dat verbod.

I am not familiar with the term "wassen neus". I imagine from Googling instances of its use that it means something useless or ineffectual but I can't think of the proper translation.
Maria Danielson
United States
Local time: 07:05
aimless, hollow, purposeless
Explanation:
Keep it simple :)
Selected response from:

Hans Geluk
Spain
Local time: 13:05
Grading comment
I went for "hollow". Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +4aimless, hollow, purposeless
Hans Geluk
5 +1that's a mere formality, that's just for appearance(s') sake, that's just for (the) show
Textpertise
4 +1remain dead letter
Frank van 't Hoog
3 +1Sham
Dave Greatrix
Summary of reference entries provided
wassen neus
Barend van Zadelhoff
Van Dale
writeaway
JurLex + Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal
Michael Beijer

  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
that's a mere formality, that's just for appearance(s') sake, that's just for (the) show


Explanation:
Van Dale

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 39

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Barend van Zadelhoff: Blind Faith
1 hr
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Sham


Explanation:
Toothless tiger - Basically, a face saving excercise.

Dave Greatrix
United Kingdom
Local time: 12:05
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 27

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Beijer: "a sham" (or "empty rhetoric")
4 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
aimless, hollow, purposeless


Explanation:
Keep it simple :)

Hans Geluk
Spain
Local time: 13:05
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I went for "hollow". Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Natasha Ziada (X): Or meaningless
1 day 3 hrs
  -> Yes, that's a good synonym too. thanks!
agree  Richard Purdom: I like purposeless
1 day 22 hrs
  -> Yes, although I like hollow too because of the metaphor (the regulation as an empty wrapper). Thanks!
agree  Wiard Sterk: Hollow is good.
2 days 19 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Barend van Zadelhoff: 'meaningless' was one option I considered, also 'empty shell' 'hollow' sounds right to me as well.
4 days
  -> Dank je, Barend!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
remain dead letter


Explanation:
In a legal context, this is an appropriate translation.

Frank van 't Hoog
France
Local time: 13:05
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hans Geluk: Yes, I like this one too! http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/dead letter
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)




Reference comments


1 hr peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: wassen neus

Reference information:
niets voorstellen
niets inhouden
zinledig/zinloos zijn

het is een wassen neus - het stelt niets voor/het houdt niets in

Zou de Beschikking wel vertrouwelijk zijn, maar eventuele daarachter liggende documenten niet, dan zou het verbod van openbaarmaking een wassen neus zijn en strijden met de achterliggende ratio van dat verbod.

Zou de Beschikking wel vertrouwelijk zijn, maar eventuele daarachter liggende documenten niet, dan zou het verbod van openbaarmaking niets voorstellen en strijden met de achterliggende ratio van dat verbod

Barend van Zadelhoff
Netherlands
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 89

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  Natasha Ziada (X): Lijkt mij het beste passen in deze context.
11 hrs
  -> Hi Natasha. Ja, zo lees ik het. Ik zag dat het in van Dale N - N ook zo wordt geduid maar uiteraard heeft elke context zijn nuances.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs
Reference: Van Dale

Reference information:
dat examen is een wassen neus
that exam is just a matter of form / is just for show / is just a
formality

writeaway
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 34
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 days
Reference: JurLex + Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal

Reference information:
• Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de Nederlandse taal (14e editie, 2005):

een wassen neus

iets dat alleen voor de vorm bestaat, dat weinig voorstelt
synoniem: misleiding, bedrog

iets wat niet of nauwelijks van belang is, waar je je niet druk over hoeft te maken
synoniem: een fluitje van een cent

iem. een (wassen) neus aandraaien; iem. een (wassen) neus aanzetten
iem. om de tuin leiden, iets wijs maken

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
• JurLex:

een wassen neus =
a matter of form
just a formality

Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63
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