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uit het schuttersputje komen en de luiken openzetten

English translation: come out of the closet

07:00 Apr 18, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - International Org/Dev/Coop
Dutch term or phrase: uit het schuttersputje komen en de luiken openzetten
Een modern ontwikkelingsbeleid zet hulp in als hefboom om mondiale problemen aan te pakken, zoals het armoedevraagstuk, vrede en veiligheid, klimaat en energie. ‘Hun problemen zijn onze problemen’ is het devies op basis van solidariteit en eigen belang. Ontwikkelingssamenwerking investeert waar weinig anderen het doen of willen. Moderne ontwikkelingssamenwerking legt de nadruk op investeren in duurzame economische groei en het scheppen van werkgelegenheid, zodat landen op eigen benen kunnen staan en zelf onderwijs en gezondheidszorg kunnen financieren. In het nieuwe beleid wordt de strijd tegen corruptie opgevoerd en het anti-corruptiebeleid aangescherpt. Nieuwe partners en nieuwe coalities gaan de armoede in de wereld te lijf. Ontwikkelingssamenwerking komt uit het schuttersputje en zet de luiken open. Aansluiten bij wat succesvol is en werkt, stoppen met wat niet goed gaat. Kortom, alle hens aan dek voor maximale effectiviteit, op basis van een nieuwe plaatsbepaling van de Ontwikkelingssamenwerking in de 21ste eeuw.
adremco
Local time: 13:28
English translation:come out of the closet
Explanation:
so to speak.

Schuttersputten are foxholes, according to Van Dale. The word also makes me think of those slits built into castle and city walls that protect "shooters." It is my understanding that marksmen stood and shot (arrows) through the narrow slots.... Throwing the luiken open, throwing open the shutters . . .

I would think this is a "mixed idiom" . . . with the idea of coming out in the open and publicly taking a stand.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-04-18 11:27:07 GMT)
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I agree, it's always difficult translating idioms. What about "come out fighting?" I meant "come out of the closet" rather tongue in cheek, to give you an idea of the "feeling" and figured you would express it in an appropriate way.

As for 'dichtgetimmerde regelgeving'-- "watertight rules"?

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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-04-18 11:33:54 GMT)
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"Emerge from its foxhole and open the shutters" is a literal translation, but I'm not sure it will make sense to English readers... what's all this about shutters? I think the idea is more "emerge from the foxhole and take the fight to the street," perhaps. Or, as I mentioned previously, "come out of the foxhole fighting." Something like that. I think any mention of shutters is only confusing.

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Note added at 5 hrs (2009-04-18 12:00:21 GMT)
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RE: "-ise"/"-ize," as a native US English speaker, I think everything should be "ized." (And punctuation should come inside quotations marks....).... As far as I know, "-ise" is UK. I read somewhere that more and more UK English speakers/writers are "izing" . . . I always ask the client which they prefer.

You can contact me by clicking on my name, which takes you to my profile where you can click on "contact." Thanks for your offer . . . if I'm stuck, I usually ask my native Dutch & English speaking daughter . . . but it's good to know you're there too.
Selected response from:

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 12:28
Grading comment
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +1come out of the closet
Suzan Hamer


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
come out of the closet


Explanation:
so to speak.

Schuttersputten are foxholes, according to Van Dale. The word also makes me think of those slits built into castle and city walls that protect "shooters." It is my understanding that marksmen stood and shot (arrows) through the narrow slots.... Throwing the luiken open, throwing open the shutters . . .

I would think this is a "mixed idiom" . . . with the idea of coming out in the open and publicly taking a stand.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-04-18 11:27:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I agree, it's always difficult translating idioms. What about "come out fighting?" I meant "come out of the closet" rather tongue in cheek, to give you an idea of the "feeling" and figured you would express it in an appropriate way.

As for 'dichtgetimmerde regelgeving'-- "watertight rules"?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-04-18 11:33:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Emerge from its foxhole and open the shutters" is a literal translation, but I'm not sure it will make sense to English readers... what's all this about shutters? I think the idea is more "emerge from the foxhole and take the fight to the street," perhaps. Or, as I mentioned previously, "come out of the foxhole fighting." Something like that. I think any mention of shutters is only confusing.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2009-04-18 12:00:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

RE: "-ise"/"-ize," as a native US English speaker, I think everything should be "ized." (And punctuation should come inside quotations marks....).... As far as I know, "-ise" is UK. I read somewhere that more and more UK English speakers/writers are "izing" . . . I always ask the client which they prefer.

You can contact me by clicking on my name, which takes you to my profile where you can click on "contact." Thanks for your offer . . . if I'm stuck, I usually ask my native Dutch & English speaking daughter . . . but it's good to know you're there too.

Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Local time: 12:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 1
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks again Suzan. I've gone with 'emerge from its foxhole and open the shutters'. This kind of idiom is always tricky when not translating to your native language... For example: how would you say 'dichtgetimmerde regelgeving' in English? :)

Asker: Hi Suzan. You're right, shutters is confusing. But I think 'taking the fight to the streets' is a bit to colloquial for a foreign policy document issued by the government. But I see the point, maybe something will come to me. You want to exchange e-mail adresses? Mine is [email protected]. It says your native language is English. Mine is Dutch, if I can ever help you with that, just drop me a note. O and thanks for the watertight, I'll go with that. By the by... I have a sort of recurring question. Is organise instead of organize just British, or too old-fashioned? synchronise, harmonise, organisation... I use s, not z. What's your opinion?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: but in English, to come out of the closet means to openly reveal the fact you are gay etc........ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coming_out http://www.thefreedictionary.com/come out of the closet
36 mins
  -> Yes, originally. That's why I said "so to speak." It's often now used in general to mean "going public" or announcing or making public, and by extension, to take a stand.
agree  Oliver Pekelharing: 'International development is coming out of the closet'... I love it!!! (But it won't go down well with all readers...)
4 hrs
  -> Well, the weather is so great today I was feeling a little slaphappy when I answered the question . . .maybe I should have calmed down enough to think of a more sober interpretation . . . but that's the idea. Thanks.
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