de grenslijn tussen ... is nogal vaag

English translation: there is no clear distinction between..., there is a fine line between ...

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:de grenslijn tussen .. is nogal vaag
English translation:there is no clear distinction between..., there is a fine line between ...
Entered by: Antoinette Verburg

10:15 Nov 3, 2004
Dutch to English translations [Non-PRO]
Philosophy
Dutch term or phrase: de grenslijn tussen ... is nogal vaag
Context is divers, maar in ieder geval gaat het om figuurlijk gebruik, bijv. 'de grenslijn tussen beide begrippen is nogal vaag'.
Ik kom hier allerlei mogelijkheden voor tegen, en zou daarom graag van native speakers horen wat hier nou echt een juiste/mooie Engelse vertaling van is.

Alvast bedankt!
Antoinette Verburg
Netherlands
Local time: 11:20
There is no clear distinction
Explanation:
Je zou het ook kunnen omschrijven:

There is no clear distinction between these two concepts.
Selected response from:

Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 04:20
Grading comment
Hartelijk dank, Tina en anderen.
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4fine line
FionaT
5the border between ... is rather vague
Ben Hickman
4 +1There is no clear distinction
Tina Vonhof (X)


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
the border between ... is rather vague


Explanation:
I would write, "The border between these concepts is rather vague."

Ben Hickman
Sweden
Local time: 11:20
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ton Remkes: Even though, perhaps not native!!
12 hrs
  -> American... not British. But I think the construction is quite acceptable in British English as well.

disagree  sparow: borderline, surely?
3 days 8 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
fine line


Explanation:
I would say "There is a fine line between XXX and YYY".

FionaT
Netherlands
Local time: 11:20
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in DutchDutch

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Monica Sandor
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Monica

agree  Siobhan Schoonhoff-Reilly
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Siobhan

agree  Chris Hopley
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Chris

agree  Leo3 (X)
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, Elona

agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tina

disagree  Ton Remkes: Simplification!? But who am I between all those 'inboorlingen'?
12 hrs
  -> Personally, I don't consider it to be more simplified, but then who am I? :-)

disagree  Ben Hickman: This construction suggests (to my American ears) a warning or negative connotation (i.e. There is a fine line between corporal punishment and physical abuse.)
17 hrs
  -> I agree with you that this construction is particularly useful in a 'warning' context, but to my mind that is not the only context in which it could be used.

agree  Ron Willems
1659 days
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
There is no clear distinction


Explanation:
Je zou het ook kunnen omschrijven:

There is no clear distinction between these two concepts.

Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 04:20
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Hartelijk dank, Tina en anderen.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  sparow: yes
2 days 20 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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