Aan de situatie rond de verzamelemmer te oordelen, waan je je soms in Napels.

English translation: Judging the situation around the trash bin, you'd almost say you were in Napels.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:Aan de situatie rond de verzamelemmer te oordelen, waan je je soms in Napels.
English translation:Judging the situation around the trash bin, you'd almost say you were in Napels.
Entered by: Esther van der Wal

08:34 Nov 1, 2010
Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Dutch term or phrase: Aan de situatie rond de verzamelemmer te oordelen, waan je je soms in Napels.
This sentence is from a quality blog discussing various methods of drying your hands in public restrooms. I'm sure it has an English equivalent, but I can not find any reference/clarification for it. Any suggestions?
Linda Gould (X)
Belgium
Local time: 17:55
Judging the situation around the trash bin, you'd almost say you were in Napels.
Explanation:
This is not a fixed expression of any kind; it refers to the city of Napels in Italy which is notorious for its garbage problem. So the meaning is: there's so much garbage in/or/around the trash bin that it reminds of the situation in Napels.

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Note added at 3 mins (2010-11-01 08:37:52 GMT)
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Sorry, just noticed the English spelling of Napels should be "Naples".

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Note added at 5 mins (2010-11-01 08:39:35 GMT)
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And judging "by" the situation, I was a bit too quick with answering I guess...

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Note added at 2 hrs (2010-11-01 11:14:58 GMT)
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Lol Linda, see sometimes it's good to state the obvious ;-) Good luck!

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Note added at 4 days (2010-11-05 14:31:35 GMT) Post-grading
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Thank you
Selected response from:

Esther van der Wal
Netherlands
Local time: 17:55
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1the overflowing rubbish bin looks like something from Naples
philgoddard
3Looking at the waste bin and around it, you'd almost think you were in Naples.
Kate Hudson (X)
3Judging the situation around the trash bin, you'd almost say you were in Napels.
Esther van der Wal
Summary of reference entries provided
context
writeaway

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the overflowing rubbish bin looks like something from Naples


Explanation:
That's UK English; trash bin in the US.
I think you need to explain why it looks like something from Naples - hence the addition of "overflowing".

philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Phil.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: one of many ways to say it but it needs this language register/style
5 mins
  -> Thanks.
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4 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Looking at the waste bin and around it, you'd almost think you were in Naples.


Explanation:
Another option

Kate Hudson (X)
Netherlands
Local time: 17:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Judging the situation around the trash bin, you'd almost say you were in Napels.


Explanation:
This is not a fixed expression of any kind; it refers to the city of Napels in Italy which is notorious for its garbage problem. So the meaning is: there's so much garbage in/or/around the trash bin that it reminds of the situation in Napels.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2010-11-01 08:37:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, just noticed the English spelling of Napels should be "Naples".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2010-11-01 08:39:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And judging "by" the situation, I was a bit too quick with answering I guess...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2010-11-01 11:14:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Lol Linda, see sometimes it's good to state the obvious ;-) Good luck!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2010-11-05 14:31:35 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thank you

Esther van der Wal
Netherlands
Local time: 17:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Esther. The Naples, ITALY reference did it for me!! I kept thinking of Naples, Florida in the US and could not make heads nor tails of this sentence.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: it's more about imagining being in Naples. I'd stick with a verb like imagine, think etc rather than say, especially in this context. Judging is also too strong imo
9 mins
  -> That was about the meaning I had in mind, but thanks for your comment. 'Imagine' could work well too.
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Reference comments


11 mins peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: context

Reference information:
Een andere mogelijkheid om je handen af te drogen is het gebruik van papieren handdoeken. Is niet milieuvriendelijk, maar wel hygiënisch. Aan de situatie rond de verzamelemmer te oordelen, waan je je soms in Napels. Heb je al ooit deze situatie meegemaakt? Je wil een handdoekje onderaan uit de gleuf peuteren van de voorraadbak, en het lukt je niet omdat het spul pas bijgevuld is. Stevig bijgevuld is. Onmogelijk om een handdoekje eruit te pulken. Vastberaden trek je wat harder, en plots heb je een een stapel van wel 5 centimeter handdoeken in je handen. Jackpot! Heeft diegene die de voorraad aanvult dit nog nooit uitgetest? Heeft die nog nooit gedacht: wat moet ik nu doen met al die handdoeken?
http://www.kwaliteitsblog.be/tag/meerwaarde/

writeaway
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 34

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  philgoddard: Thanks!
2 hrs
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