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De return komt echter niet vanzelf

English translation: the rewards don't come easily

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:de return komt niet vanzelf
English translation:the rewards don't come easily
Entered by: Chris Hopley

12:55 Oct 1, 2009
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Journalism
Dutch term or phrase: De return komt echter niet vanzelf
This is an article about e-marketing for a business school's magazine. I'm looking for a good, fluent alternative to my "There's no such thing as a free lunch", which isn't entirely appropriate, I feel.

Interviewee x (the school's web content manager) has just ticked off the advantages of e-marketing. Then:

**De return komt echter niet vanzelf.** Online marketing is een prijzige, tijdsintensieve bezigheid en vergt de nodige voorbereiding. Een van de sleutels tot succes is een goed verhaal. “Een boodschap zonder inhoud brengt niets op,” weet x.
MoiraB
France
Local time: 01:25
to generate a return, you need to keep at it
Explanation:
The way I read it, the person is saying that you can't just sit back and watch the return come in. You need to work at it. The following sentences seem to bear this about: it costs a lot of time and money.
Selected response from:

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 01:25
Grading comment
I actually decided to use something completely different (The rewards don't come easily, though) but this is closest in flavour and pointed me in the right direction. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1The return is not evident!
L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
4to generate a return, you need to keep at it
Chris Hopley
3 +1The return will not happen overnight
Elsje Apostel
4But returns don't happen by magic.
Textpertise
3The returns won't come without investment
Lianne van de Ven


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The return is not evident!


Explanation:
or "The return is not obvious/guaranteed/automatic"

L.J.Wessel van Leeuwen
South Africa
Local time: 01:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Oliver Pekelharing: I like 'The return is not guaranteed'.
2 mins
  -> Thanks.
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The returns won't come without investment


Explanation:
In het Nls is enkelvoud 'return' gebruikt maar ik zou het zo zeggen: komen niet vanzelf - won't come without investment

Lianne van de Ven
United States
Local time: 19:25
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: it's return in English too. returns takes us somewhere else.....
7 mins
  -> thank you
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22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
de return komt echter niet vanzelf
to generate a return, you need to keep at it


Explanation:
The way I read it, the person is saying that you can't just sit back and watch the return come in. You need to work at it. The following sentences seem to bear this about: it costs a lot of time and money.

Chris Hopley
Netherlands
Local time: 01:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
I actually decided to use something completely different (The rewards don't come easily, though) but this is closest in flavour and pointed me in the right direction. Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
The return will not happen overnight


Explanation:
The return will not happen overnight

Elsje Apostel
Belgium
Local time: 01:25
Native speaker of: Dutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): I.m.o. the most likely expression a person might use in that situation.
2 hrs
  -> ty Tina
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
But returns don't happen by magic.


Explanation:
and you would then carry on talking about the effort and investment of time and money involved...

Textpertise
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7
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