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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

De wal zal het schip wel keren / de wal keert het schip

10:47 Sep 9, 2011
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Dutch to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Proverbs
Dutch term or phrase: De wal zal het schip wel keren / de wal keert het schip
I am looking for a good way to translate this phrase. I know what it means, but I can't seem to come up with a good English translation of it.

1.*** Wikiquote has this (in my opinion not so great) translation:

'De wal zal het schip keren
Literal Translation: "The shore will stop the ship."
Meaning: The course of things will take a different turn automatically.'

2.*** http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lijst_van_uitdrukkingen_en_geze... has this:

'Dan moet de wal het schip maar keren.
Als iemand niet vooraf rekening houdt met een naderend probleem, dan moet het probleem maar daadwerkelijk in volle omvang ontstaan, en dan alsnog worden opgelost.'

3.*** And my Van Dale Groot woordenboek van de nederlandse taal (14e editie) has:

'de wal keert het schip
de (natuurlijke) omstandigheden verhinderen een verdere (ongewenste) ontwikkeling ofwel de voortzetting van een handeling'
Michael Beijer
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:47


Summary of answers provided
3There will be no way out before there is no way out.
Barend van Zadelhoff
2you can only push things so far
Ide Verhelst (X)
3 -1everything will turn out for the best/will work out in the end
Verginia Ophof
1the tide will turn
W Schouten


Discussion entries: 8





  

Answers


9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
the tide will turn


Explanation:
may be? it is in keeping with the nautical theme(-;

W Schouten
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:47
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
you can only push things so far


Explanation:
Just a suggestion, based on the Wikipedia definition (2.***).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 uren (2011-09-09 12:57:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Other suggestion: to hit the fan = to meet with an inevitable obstacle or a difficulty.
The expression is not only and solely used with the usual four-letter word (you know the one) ;-)



Ide Verhelst (X)
Belgium
Local time: 10:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 16
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
everything will turn out for the best/will work out in the end


Explanation:
(for a bad situation) to turn out all right in the end.
Don't worry. Everything will work out for the best.

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 02:47
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Clair Richards: if it is this then it might be-all's well that ends well
50 mins
  -> I was on the wrong ship :(
neutral  Lianne van de Ven: It makes somewhat sense, but I don't think this conveys the essence.
2 hrs
  -> no, it doesn't at all Lianne
disagree  Rollie: De wal zal het schip keren wil ZEKER niet zeggen dat het resultaat, als je de dingen blijft doen zonder acht te slaan op de wereld om je heen, gewenst is. Als je bootje gestrand is ben je de pisang. :)
165 days
  -> I tend to agree with you Rollie !
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18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
There will be no way out before there is no way out.


Explanation:
Things need to end up in a dead-end situation before a change of tack is considered. (It requires pain to get sane.)

I think this is an important aspect of the phrase's meaning, which you will soon find out if you study a number of appropriate examples.

And I tried to find a funny, and therefore possibly inappropriate, way of saying it

So my suggestion is primarily meant to indicate an important aspect of the meaning

this is imo a correct general definition:

'de wal keert het schip
de (natuurlijke) omstandigheden verhinderen een verdere (ongewenste) ontwikkeling ofwel de voortzetting van een handeling'

while this one is also correct but a bit more specific:

Als iemand niet vooraf rekening houdt met een naderend probleem, dan moet het probleem maar daadwerkelijk in volle omvang ontstaan, en dan alsnog worden opgelost.'

while this one is a poor definition imo:

The course of things will take a different turn automatically

The expression only takes on real meaning in specific contexts.
While the general meaning will hold true in all circumstances there will be room for a wide range of related or more or less similar meanings which will be specified by the specific contexts.

compare 'slag naar de markt'

Barend van Zadelhoff
Netherlands
Local time: 10:47
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in category: 89
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