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halen

English translation: catch up


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:halen
English translation:catch up
Entered by: Alexander Taguiltsev
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

21:22 Nov 30, 2008
Dutch to English translations [Non-PRO]
Marketing - Agriculture
Dutch term or phrase: halen
Please, help to understand what it means in the sentence:
Voor veredeling is een technische know-how nodig die niet zomaar in te halen is.

Thank you.
Alexander Taguiltsev
Russian Federation
Local time: 01:14
catch up
Explanation:
hard to (quickly) catch up with... inhalen
Is what the text says. Possibly they mean "acquire" is "binnenhalen" which can also be used: not easy/quick to acquire.
Selected response from:

Lianne Van De Ven
United States
Local time: 17:14
Grading comment
Thanks to all!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6catch up
Lianne Van De Ven
4 +2the gap in (...) technology know-how cannot be closed overnightxxxjarry
4acquire
Jennifer Barnett


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
(in)halen
catch up


Explanation:
hard to (quickly) catch up with... inhalen
Is what the text says. Possibly they mean "acquire" is "binnenhalen" which can also be used: not easy/quick to acquire.

Lianne Van De Ven
United States
Local time: 17:14
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks to all!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kalyani Jog
1 hr
  -> bedankt

agree  Kate Hudson
1 hr
  -> bedankt

agree  Tina Vonhof: I think they mean 'inhalen' - technical know-how that third world countries have to catch up with.
5 hrs
  -> thanks!

agree  Textpertise: When you enter the word in the glossary, enter it as "inhalen".
11 hrs

agree  Arie Uittenbogaard
15 hrs

agree  Kitty Brussaard
15 hrs

neutral  xxxjarry: Sometimes a literal translation does not produce the best (idiomatic) solution. See Jennifer Barnett's comment which hits the nail on the head.
17 hrs
  -> "niet zomaar in te halen" vind ik nou ook geen formeel taalgebruik. Acquire was my alternative suggestion and I agree with Jennifer's comment.
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
the gap in (...) technology know-how cannot be closed overnight


Explanation:
...

xxxjarry
South Africa
Local time: 23:14
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kitty Brussaard
6 hrs
  -> Thank you

agree  Saskia Steur
14 hrs
  -> Thank you
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
inhalen
acquire


Explanation:
As it is a professional level question, I think that 'catch up' is a little too informal and you are then saddled up with 'with with to catch up' which is a uncomfortable phrase combining correct grammar with an informal expression - rather incongruous in a professional text.

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Note added at 1 day12 hrs (2008-12-02 09:50:49 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

In reply to Jarry's last comment, I tend toward Lianne's remark that it should have been 'binnenhalen': that makes more sense in the original sentence than 'inhalen'. If that is the case, depending on the meaning of the rest of the text, then 'acquire' should be good.



Example sentence(s):
  • Such technological know-how is not so easy to acquire.
Jennifer Barnett
France
Local time: 23:14
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  xxxjarry: 'Acquire' is certainly not a good translation of "inhalen". "Inhalen" implies that there is a gap to be closed/bridged, and I still believe that my suggested answer is the best idiomatic solution.
9 hrs
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Voters for reclassification
as
PRO / non-PRO
PRO (1): Jennifer Barnett
Non-PRO (1): writeaway


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Changes made by editors
Nov 30, 2008 - Changes made by Lawyer-Linguist:
LevelPRO => Non-PRO


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