Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
het achterste van zijn tong liet zein
English translation:
never revealed what he was truly thinking
Added to glossary by
R. James
Nov 7, 2003 20:30
20 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Dutch term
het achterste van zijn tong liet zein
Dutch to English
Art/Literary
Music
Music
Coming across this phrase a lot in the kinds of texts I am working with, and have translated it in various ways. Here, the context is "XXXX keuvelde tussendoor goedgemust met het publiek, maar je had nooit het gevoel dat hij echt het achterste van zijn tong liet zien."
It goes on to say that that's the way this entertainer is: professional, etc.
Any suggestions for the wording of this phrase? I have used "did not phone-in" the performance and others before, but in this case I am leaning toward something like
"did not let his guard down."
?
It goes on to say that that's the way this entertainer is: professional, etc.
Any suggestions for the wording of this phrase? I have used "did not phone-in" the performance and others before, but in this case I am leaning toward something like
"did not let his guard down."
?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | it means that |
Elisabeth Toda-v.Galen
|
| 4 +1 | he never revealed what he was truly thinking |
AllisonK (X)
|
Proposed translations
37 mins
Selected
it means that
he didn't say what he really thought, he wasn't being totally honest
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This is it... thanks to both!"
+1
39 mins
he never revealed what he was truly thinking
a suggestion - something along these lines.
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