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geen vrijblijvend pretreisje

English translation: it was no stroll in the park


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:geen vrijblijvend pretreisje
English translation:it was no stroll in the park
Entered by: Christopher Smith
Options:
- Contribute to this entry
- Include in personal glossary

14:14 Sep 13, 2006
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Dutch term or phrase: geen vrijblijvend pretreisje
I'm thinking of 'Definitely not a fun ride with no strings attached' but would welcome more elegant suggestions! Flanders DC = Flanders District of Creativity.

Samen met [business school] lanceerde Flanders DC de Winter Academy, een vierdaags evenement waarvoor laatstejaarsstudenten en pasafgestudeerden zich kandidaat konden stellen. Uit de meer dan 800 kandidaten werden 25 high potentials met verschillende achtergrond geselecteerd voor een intensief bad van creativiteit en innovatie. **Geen vrijblijvend pretreisje** want aan het einde van het vierdaagse seminarie moesten de studenten een stevig businessplan voorleggen dat niet alleen creatief en innovatief moest zijn maar ook implementeerbaar.
MoiraB
Local time: 07:28
it was no stroll in the park
Explanation:
A fairly old-fashioned expression i.m.o., but it gives you another option.
Selected response from:

Christopher Smith
United Kingdom
Grading comment
Torn between this and the 'no such thing as a free lunch' idea, but this one wins by a nose. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3not an all play and no work
Francina
4 +2it was no stroll in the park
Christopher Smith
3 +2not mere fun and gamesHarry Borsje
3 +1It wasn't what you'd call a picnic
Kate Hudson
3 +1free lunch (with) no strings attached ...
Adam Smith
4no fun-only trip without obligations
Dennis Seine
4informal fun trip
joeky janusch
5 -1no free ride!
Marieke
3not just a fun trip
Katrien De Clercq


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
informal fun trip


Explanation:
Maybe another option??

joeky janusch
Israel
Local time: 08:28
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
no free ride!


Explanation:
I am quite sure of this

Marieke
Local time: 07:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tina Vonhof: Not so sure - a free ride means that it doesn't cost anything.
1 hr
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
no fun-only trip without obligations


Explanation:
Perhaps a nice way of juxtaposing fun and obligations.

Dennis Seine
United States
Local time: 01:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
not just a fun trip


Explanation:
*

Katrien De Clercq
Local time: 07:28
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in FlemishFlemish
PRO pts in category: 4
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
free lunch (with) no strings attached ...


Explanation:
... it wasn't (just) a free lunch with no strings attached!

Or conversely, you could say "it was no free lunch - there were strings attached:..."

Adam Smith
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:28
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francina
19 mins
  -> Thank you!

disagree  Tina Vonhof: Free lunch means just that - you don't have to pay.
1 hr
  -> Literally speaking - yes, but metaphorically, and much, much more commonly used in Anglo world that you don't get something for nothing - i.e. something's expected in return!

agree  Terence Lewis: "it was definitely no free lunch" - almost a cliche now in the UK!
21 hrs
  -> Absolutely - thank you
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
It wasn't what you'd call a picnic


Explanation:
That's what sprang to mind

Kate Hudson
Netherlands
Local time: 07:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof: Good one.
1 hr
  -> Thanks
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51 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
not an all play and no work


Explanation:
It was not an all play and no work seminar/field trip/jaunt

Francina
United States
Local time: 01:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof: I like this one too.
58 mins

agree  Ann Bishop
2 hrs

agree  Saskia Steur
22 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
not mere fun and games


Explanation:
as at the end...

my 2 cents


Harry Borsje
Netherlands
Local time: 07:28
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 13

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof: good option.
41 mins

agree  Saskia Steur
22 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
it was no stroll in the park


Explanation:
A fairly old-fashioned expression i.m.o., but it gives you another option.


    Reference: http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/othersport.cfm?id=11777...
    Reference: http://allafrica.com/stories/200608250408.html
Christopher Smith
United Kingdom
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Torn between this and the 'no such thing as a free lunch' idea, but this one wins by a nose. Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: last but definitely not least: this sounds like the right expression (style AND register too) and also sounds like something one would actually say in English.
1 hr
  -> thanks writeaway

agree  Saskia Steur: I think I would prefer this one, totally agree with writeaway
20 hrs
  -> thanks Saskia
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