je zal het geweten hebben

English translation: an ending you certainly won\'t forget

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Dutch term or phrase:	je zal het geweten hebben
English translation:	an ending you certainly won\'t forget
Entered by:	MoiraB

11:30 Apr 12, 2012

Dutch to English translations [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters /

Dutch term or phrase: je zal het geweten hebben

This is a short summary of the plot of a film and the Flemish director's intentions.

Simple enough phrase but I'm wondering what's behind it:
De film werkt toe naar een gewelddadige climax die z'n slachtoffers zal eisen en als kijker **zal je het geweten hebben**.

Does this convey the idea of inevitability?

MoiraB KudoZ activity Questions: 725 (none open) (1 without valid answers) (21 closed without grading) Answers: 545 France
Local time: 11:28

you will know all about it

Explanation:
je zal het geweten hebben, implies the climax will be a shock for the viewer as well, one that you won't forget, so translation alternative: an ending you certainly won't forget

Selected response from:

val kidd
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:28

Grading comment

Tricky little phrase that seems to convey different layers of meaning. I offered the client a few options here (I also liked 'hit home' and 'deeply impress') and the client felt this was closest: as a viewer you will never forget the experience, expressing the great impact the end of the film will have on the viewer. Thanks, everyone!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

as a viewer it will hit home with you like a ton of bricks

Barend van Zadelhoff

4 +1

you will know all about it

val kidd

4 +1

you are warned/you will be warned

Ide Verhelst (X)

you will have known

Berry Prinsen

you might have known......

Dave Greatrix

3 +1

you can't escape from it

freekfluweel

4 -1

you should have known

Alexander Schleber (X)

deeply impress the viewer

Lianne van de Ven

you knew it all along

Verginia Ophof

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

you should have known

Explanation:
hta's what I would use.

Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 11:28
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 7

35 mins confidence:

you will have known

Explanation:
voltooid tegenwoordig toekomende tijd in Dutch is the correct tense

Berry Prinsen
Spain
Local time: 11:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Dutch

36 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

als kijken zal je het geweten hebben as a viewer it will hit home with you like a ton of bricks

Explanation:
I think something like this

you will be confronted with reality in an 'inevitable' 'inescapable' way, the notion of inevitability you referred to

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Note added at 37 mins (2012-04-12 12:08:22 GMT)
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als kijken --> als kijkeR

Barend van Zadelhoff
Netherlands
Local time: 11:28
Native speaker of:

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 89

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Lianne van de Ven: I would leave out the "ton of bricks", it clashes with a movie which by nature will have its own visuals, and they probably won't be bricks.

3 hrs

-> Thanks, Lianne. I understand your point but I think the reader will understand 'ton of bricks' is used metaphorically. 'Bomb' could also be used and possibly other expressions. Moreover, Moira could adapt this part to the context.

agree

Frank van Thienen (X): yes, there is more to this expression than literally "knowing it". It indicates a significant impact on someone.

3 hrs

-> Thanks, Frank. Yes that's what's basically behind this phrase.

agree

Verginia Ophof

3 hrs

-> Thank you, Verginia.

agree

Tina Vonhof (X): the ton of bricks is superfluous.// When something hits home it hits home, no bricks needed.

8 hrs

-> Thank you, Tina. It's about clarifying the idea and an intensifier may be needed, perhaps not. / I understand but you find: like a hammer blow/ thunderbolt / iron bar /rock inside a velvet glove :-) / truck to the head / bag of childhood sweets :-) etc.

41 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

you will know all about it

Explanation:
je zal het geweten hebben, implies the climax will be a shock for the viewer as well, one that you won't forget, so translation alternative: an ending you certainly won't forget

val kidd
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

1 hr confidence:

you might have known......

Explanation:
"you might have known that would happen" means you probably thought that was going to happen - you thought that was inevitable

Dave Greatrix
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:28
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 27

3 hrs confidence:

deeply impress the viewer

Explanation:
One option. The film works towards a violent climax demanding its victims that will also deeply impress the viewer.

Lianne van de Ven
United States
Local time: 05:28
Native speaker of:

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 43

4 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

you can't escape from it

Explanation:
zoiets...

freekfluweel
Netherlands
Local time: 11:28
Native speaker of:

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 12

4 hrs confidence:

you knew it all along

Explanation:
well what do you know !....you were in on it all along

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 03:28
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

20 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

you are warned/you will be warned

Explanation:
In my humble opinion, "weten" has actually nothing to do with "knowing" here.

What is conveyed, is that as a viewer who is into in your face violence, will get his money's worth; the others are warned.

In other words, the author of the article promises a violent climax, and that is exactly what the viewer will get.

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Note added at 20 uren (2012-04-13 08:03:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

This is what Van Dale says:

… en dat zullen we weten (ook), … en dat zullen we geweten hebben => het kan ons onmogelijk ontgaan, we worden er nadrukkelijk mee geconfronteerd

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Note added at 20 uren (2012-04-13 08:06:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Other suggestion for a translation:

there is no escape/there is no escaping it (for the viewer, that is).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 dagen20 uren (2012-04-15 07:39:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Nog een paar suggesties:

You know what you are in for / what's coming / what to expect

Ide Verhelst (X)
Belgium
Local time: 11:28
Works in field
Native speaker of:

Dutch
PRO pts in category: 16

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English translation: an ending you certainly won\'t forget

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