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een kale reis

English translation: a disappointing/unsuccessful/fruitless trip/journey

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:een kale reis
English translation:a disappointing/unsuccessful/fruitless trip/journey
Entered by: MoiraB

12:00 Mar 25, 2008
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: een kale reis
Rather urgent, as the job is due back by 14.00 CET! Brief summary of a play for a flyer:

Kroum komt na **een kale reis** terug in de verstikkende volkswijk waar hij geboren is. Alles is er bij het oude gebleven: er wordt gegeten en gefeest, getreurd en gedroomd. Met veel weerzin draait Kroum mee in de molen van de middelmatigheid, hoopvol wachtend tot het échte leven begint.

What's the meaning of 'kaal' here? Uneventful??
MoiraB
France
Local time: 01:12
a disappointing trip/journey
Explanation:
Bedoeld wordt dat hij niet gevonden heeft wat hij dacht te vinden (roem, geld, een job, avontuur...).
Selected response from:

Ide Verhelst (X)
Belgium
Local time: 01:12
Grading comment
Sorry, didn't look under 'reis' in NL-NL vD! Flemish colleagues confirmed that 'na een kale reis thuiskomen/terugkomen' means that 'men het doel dat men voor ogen had niet heeft kunnen bereiken'. I liked Erik's suggestion but since I quoted all the text there was, it raises more questions than it answers really. Ide's option seems closest, or perhaps fruitless/unsuccessful. Definitely not voyage, as that suggests a journey by sea. Thanks, everyone.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5a trip or journey without results
Etienne Muylle Wallace
4 +1uneventful / useless trip/voyage
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
3 +2come home empty-handed
Erik Boers
4a disappointing trip/journey
Ide Verhelst (X)
4 -1a basic trip
Albert Stufkens
3a boring , unexciting trip
JoGoes


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
a trip or journey without results


Explanation:
van een kale reis terugkeren = to come back without any result or solution, etc

Etienne Muylle Wallace
Spain
Local time: 01:12
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Albert Stufkens: The purpose or mission of the trip is not a given.
3 hrs
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
uneventful / useless trip/voyage


Explanation:
yes

L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
Local time: 01:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mollepootje V. (X): I prefer trip ...
5 mins
  -> Ja kan natturlijk ook. Bedankt
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
van een kale reis terugkomen/thuiskomen
come home empty-handed


Explanation:
If it fits the context...

Erik Boers
Belgium
Local time: 01:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Dutch
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Suzanne Jansen
51 mins
agree  Sabine Piens
2 hrs
neutral  Albert Stufkens: The purpose or mission of the trip is not a given.
3 hrs
  -> Maybe it is mentioned in the previous sentence (if there is one).
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
a basic trip


Explanation:
A trip without any luxury or special comforts.
Just functional from A to B.

Albert Stufkens
Netherlands
Local time: 01:12
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Suzanne Jansen: This phrase has a very specific meaning; see Van Dale NL-NL under 'reis' and above.
2 hrs
  -> I wish I could follow what you mean. What is then the specific meaning?? Is it not about moving from one point to another? I did scrutinize Van Dale NL-NL!
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a boring , unexciting trip


Explanation:
kaal: with nothing to it

JoGoes
Local time: 00:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
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23 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a disappointing trip/journey


Explanation:
Bedoeld wordt dat hij niet gevonden heeft wat hij dacht te vinden (roem, geld, een job, avontuur...).

Ide Verhelst (X)
Belgium
Local time: 01:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Sorry, didn't look under 'reis' in NL-NL vD! Flemish colleagues confirmed that 'na een kale reis thuiskomen/terugkomen' means that 'men het doel dat men voor ogen had niet heeft kunnen bereiken'. I liked Erik's suggestion but since I quoted all the text there was, it raises more questions than it answers really. Ide's option seems closest, or perhaps fruitless/unsuccessful. Definitely not voyage, as that suggests a journey by sea. Thanks, everyone.
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