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ons-kent-ons

English translation: like knows like


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:ons-kent-ons
English translation:like knows like
Entered by: Saskia Steur
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

15:19 Nov 6, 2006
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / General
Dutch term or phrase: ons-kent-ons
"Het gaf een duidelijk ons-kent-ons gevoel!"
Luca Tutino
Italy
Local time: 06:31
like knows like
Explanation:
Van Dale offers this as a translation and imo it conveys the same message as in Dutch (as used in The Netherlands). It implies a community spirit, a sens of belonging and knowing people really well, although not necessarily always in a positive context.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2006-11-06 16:16:53 GMT)
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It is a tenet of Pythagorean philosophy that the only way to truly know something is to become it: like knows like.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 58 mins (2006-11-06 16:17:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hier wordt het ook duidelijk uitgelegd:
http://www.ptb.be/scripts/article.phtml?lang=2&obid=26142

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2006-11-07 07:23:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the context and explanation now given by the asker confirms my answer imo. It's a slightly negative attitude, of aloofness perphaps even, of the policeman that is referred to here.
Selected response from:

Saskia Steur
Local time: 06:31
Grading comment
Thank you all - your answers helped me! May-be the regional differentiation was the most helpful.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3like knows like
Saskia Steur
3 +2we know each other
Katrien De Clercq
4sense of familiarity
Tina Vonhof
3hail-fellow-well-metKimvanLent


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
we know each other


Explanation:
This is a typical expression that is used in the province of West-Flanders in Belgium ! An expression that is used amongst friends when you are pulling each other's legs to say "hey, you know me ..."

I hope it's a bit clear !

Katrien De Clercq
Local time: 06:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in FlemishFlemish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Meturgan
27 mins
  -> Thank you !
agree  writeaway: like the French on se connaît, literally into folksy Dutch./info now provided tends to back this answer.imhno this is the register and the right direction.guess no one wants to acknowledge that Z. Hollands is very close to Belgian NL. tant pis
31 mins
  -> Thank you !
neutral  Saskia Steur: I am not sure about your explanation of the meaning of this Dutch phrase
37 mins
  -> I have been at school with people from this region and I am sure this is the right meaning !
neutral  Tina Vonhof: Meaning is ok but how would you translate the entire phrase?
2 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sense of familiarity


Explanation:
It would help if the asker explained what "het" refers to - the more context, the better.

Tina Vonhof
Local time: 22:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 26

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: as I said to Saskia, 1st answer is no worse than the 2nd two. with 0 context, it's a pure guessing game./only because Saskia felt I was targeting her. no other reason. ;-)
1 hr
  -> Then why would you waste your time commenting?
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53 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
like knows like


Explanation:
Van Dale offers this as a translation and imo it conveys the same message as in Dutch (as used in The Netherlands). It implies a community spirit, a sens of belonging and knowing people really well, although not necessarily always in a positive context.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2006-11-06 16:16:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It is a tenet of Pythagorean philosophy that the only way to truly know something is to become it: like knows like.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 58 mins (2006-11-06 16:17:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Hier wordt het ook duidelijk uitgelegd:
http://www.ptb.be/scripts/article.phtml?lang=2&obid=26142

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2006-11-07 07:23:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the context and explanation now given by the asker confirms my answer imo. It's a slightly negative attitude, of aloofness perphaps even, of the policeman that is referred to here.


    Reference: http://www.cs.utk.edu/~mclennan/BA/ETP/IIII.html
Saskia Steur
Local time: 06:31
Native speaker of: Dutch
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you all - your answers helped me! May-be the regional differentiation was the most helpful.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Dennis Seine: Saskia is right, especially about the negative connotations of this expression. Many times it is used by an outsider for a very closed, small society where everyone knows each other.
29 mins
  -> Thank you, Dennis!
agree  Antoinette Verburg: Ook eens met je 'Note added at 16 hours'.
37 mins
  -> Thank you again, Antoinette
neutral  writeaway: can't be sure that this covers it either-since we have absolutely no context whatsoever./now we have more info and this sounds out of register, imhno.
1 hr
  -> Why just add this comment to my suggestion. I agree, there's no way to be sure without further context, but why wouldn't that apply to the other answers as well?
agree  Mario Hendriks: Saskia is absolutely right, I only know it with negative connotations, like politicians covering each others back.
8 hrs
  -> Thank you, Mario!
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
hail-fellow-well-met


Explanation:
.

KimvanLent
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