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met hagel schieten

English translation: scattergun approach


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:met hagel schieten
English translation:scattergun approach
Entered by: Anne Key
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

17:49 Aug 10, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: met hagel schieten
I am currently working on a short marketing text (fun fairs), and am struggling to find a suitable translation for the term "met hagel schieten".

The context is as follows:

"Schiet u met hagel of met scherp? Mijn zoontjes schieten als het ware met hagel. En gaan altijd met een prijs naar huis. Zelf schiet ik een paar keer met een luchtbuks. En win bijna nooit een prijs."

All suggestions welcome - KudoZ points will be awarded after 72 hours.

Many thanks,

Anne
Anne Key
Local time: 05:33
sons use a 'shotgun/scattergun approach'
Explanation:
very common expression illustrating the use of a broad, rather than a narrow, tighly focused approach, in the hope of hitting/winning something.
Selected response from:

Louis Vorstermans
Australia
Local time: 14:33
Grading comment
My client was happiest with this suggestion - many thanks for your help!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5sons use a 'shotgun/scattergun approach'
Louis Vorstermans
3 +3shoots with a shotgun
Kate Hudson
4pellet gun approach
Verginia Ophof
Summary of reference entries provided
Shotgun or air gun
Kate Hudson

  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
shoots with a shotgun


Explanation:
As I said in the reference it has to do with the spread of the shotgun as opposed to the fine accuracy of an air gun

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Note added at 13 mins (2009-08-10 18:03:13 GMT)
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With a shotgun you would almost always be sure of hitting something

Kate Hudson
Netherlands
Local time: 06:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 44
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you Kate, much appreciated.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Dr Lofthouse: as in 'spraying with bullets' or 'died in a hail of bullets' I suppose
17 mins
  -> Thank you

agree  Ron Willems
1 hr
  -> Thank you

agree  Jack den Haan
1 hr
  -> Thank you

agree  L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen: maar natuurlijk
10 hrs
  -> Thank you

disagree  Jennifer Barnett: Too literal.
15 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
sons use a 'shotgun/scattergun approach'


Explanation:
very common expression illustrating the use of a broad, rather than a narrow, tighly focused approach, in the hope of hitting/winning something.

Louis Vorstermans
Australia
Local time: 14:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
My client was happiest with this suggestion - many thanks for your help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Christopher Smith: Yes, I would say: "My sons adopt a scattergun approach"
34 mins

agree  Jennifer Barnett: Also meets the meaning of the phrase and context, unlike the other suggestions
8 hrs

agree  Laura Morwood
16 hrs

agree  Neil Cross
18 hrs

agree  Chris Hopley: e.g. http://www.smithfam.com/news2/scattergun-advertising.html
1 day11 hrs
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6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
pellet gun approach


Explanation:
pellet gun or sharp shooting approach

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 22:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40
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Reference comments


11 mins peer agreement (net): -1
Reference: Shotgun or air gun

Reference information:
What this really means is he has a wide spray (as in when shooting with a shotgun), as opposed to shooting with an air gun where the actual area covered by the shot is very small.

Kate Hudson
Netherlands
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 44

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
disagree  Jennifer Barnett: Too literal.
15 hrs
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