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Grote lijnen in de zee trekken

English translation: distinguish general principles

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Dutch term or phrase:	Grote lijnen in de zee trekken
English translation:	distinguish general principles
Entered by:	W Schouten

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07:36 May 19, 2011

Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / uitdrukking

Dutch term or phrase: Grote lijnen in de zee trekken

“Academische juristen proberen grote lijnen in de zee aan dergelijke rechtsbeslissingen te trekken.”

mijn interpretatie (waar ik helemaal niet zeker van ben): “Academic lawyers attempt to make sense of such legal decisions.”

(this is from a speech by a Law Psychologist addressing a meeting of scientists at a Dutch university on the subject of Expert Witnesses.)

more context leading up to this sentence:
Rechters beoordelen per geval wat de juiste beslissing moet zijn.
Veelal gaat het dan niet om feitelijke vragen, maar om rechtsvragen waarbij moet worden gezocht ‘naar argumenten, inzichten en regels die kunnen helpen om juridische afwegingen tot een goed einde te brengen in een concreet geval’.
Academische juristen proberen _grote lijnen in de zee aan dergelijke rechtsbeslissingen te trekken_.

Frank van Thienen KudoZ activity Questions: 10 (none open) Answers: 140 Canada
Local time: 21:35

distinguish general principles

Explanation:
that is how I would interpret the expression in the context

Selected response from:

W Schouten
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35

Grading comment

Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

distinguish the broad outlines in the multitude of decisions

FionaT

3 +2

distinguish general principles

W Schouten

set a common course through the sea of ....

Jennifer Barnett

Answers

35 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

distinguish the broad outlines in the multitude of decisions

Explanation:
Zo zou ik het interpreteren. In de enorme zee aan beslissingen proberen zij de grote lijnen te zien.

FionaT
Netherlands
Local time: 06:35
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 11

1 hr confidence:

Grote lijnen aan en zee van .... trekken set a common course through the sea of ....

Explanation:
Volgens mij gaat het om het idiom 'een lijn trekken'.

Van Dalen: lijn, idioms
zij trekken één lijn
they speak with one voice/stick together/back one another up/present a common front
Dan Dalen: lijn: weg
route, course, way, tendency, trend

Example sentence(s):

Academic lawyers try to set a common course through the sea of similar legal decisions.

Jennifer Barnett
France
Local time: 06:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 12

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

distinguish general principles

Explanation:
that is how I would interpret the expression in the context

W Schouten
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Dutch,

English
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

Thank you!

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Changes made by editors

May 20, 2011 - Changes made by W Schouten:
Created KOG entry	KudoZ term => KOG term

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Grote lijnen in de zee trekken

English translation: distinguish general principles

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Grote lijnen in de zee trekken

English translation: distinguish general principles

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

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