Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Dutch term or phrase:
baat het niet dan schaadt het niet
English translation:
there's no harm in trying / it can't hurt to try / nothing ventured, nothing gained
Added to glossary by
Ken Cox
Nov 19, 2008 08:54
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
Dutch term
baat het niet dan schaadt het niet
Non-PRO
Dutch to English
Other
Other
baat het niet dan schaadt het niet
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
18 mins
Selected
there's no harm in trying
would probably fit your text.
this is a paraphrase of the Van Dale translation with the same meaning
this is a paraphrase of the Van Dale translation with the same meaning
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Chris Hopley
: Agree entirely. Other variations also possible, e.g. 'can't do any harm' and 'won't hurt to try'...
47 mins
|
| agree |
Frank Hesse
55 mins
|
| agree |
Kitty Brussaard
1 hr
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This is definitely my choice."
+1
17 mins
Fiona McBrien
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in Dutch
&
English
Netherlands
Sworn translator, MA in Linguistics
Native in: Dutch (Variant: Netherlands) 
, English (Variant: British)
Works in: Dutch to English, English to Dutch, Irish to Dutch, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
no harm, no foul
Slightly more accurate than 'it does not hurt to try'.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Katja van Hellemond
14 mins
|
| agree |
Sabine Piens
29 mins
|
| disagree |
Textpertise
: If someone bumps into you and you want to indicate that they haven't hurt you, you say this. It doesn't have the right meaning for the phrase we are looking at.
36 mins
|
-2
58 mins
Suzan Hamer
Netherlands
Netherlands
Native in English
Works in field
Netherlands
Fussy editing for fussy people.
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: English, Dutch to English
No pain, no gain?
It's a bit of a stretch, but in a certain context, it might work. "Pain" could equal (making the) effort, or attempting. Progress isn't possible if you don't make an attempt or effort; if you don't try.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Textpertise
: This expression is used to encourage someone who is already doing something - most usually physical exercise. It is the exact opposite of the Dutch, which is saying that whatever you propose, it WON'T hurt whereas this says to get where you want, it MUST.
8 mins
|
|
Yes, I realize this, which is why I said it's a stretch. I know it sounds the opposite, but context is everything.
|
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| disagree |
Ken Cox
: This originates from a sports context and means roughly 'there's no benefit unless it hurts' or 'you have to fight hard to achieve something'
24 mins
|
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Thanks, Ken. As I said, I realize this is quite a stretch and is generally used in sports and physical training, but somehow, in a twisted way, I thought it might apply, depending on context.
|
+3
1 hr
Textpertise
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Highest WWA rating in Europe for NL-EN
Native in: English 
Works in: Dutch to English, Hebrew to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
"Can't hurt to try" or "Nothing ventured nothing gained"
The literal translation of the Dutch is "If it won't help, it won't harm" and I have heard people use this in English, although it is not an accepted idiom. An alternative to Ken's which is equally correct is "It can't hurt to try" which is the second half of the Dutch expression. "Nothing ventured nothing gained", like the Dutch expression, is used when there is indecision about a proposed action and the speaker is trying to encourage it.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Kitty Brussaard
: With the first option. The second expression - as I know it - is used to stress the inevitability of taking risks (and possibly get 'hurt') if you want to achieve something.
37 mins
|
| agree |
Chris Hopley
: 'nothing ventured nothing gained' is a great way of putting it, which I see it as an alternative for 'it's worth a go' - the risk Kitty mentions being that it might not work.
1 hr
|
| agree |
Tina Vonhof (X)
4 hrs
|
-1
4 hrs
"If it's not hurting, it's not working"
Might be an alternative worth considering.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Ken Cox
: this means nearly the same as 'no pain, no gain' and wrong for the reasons already noted
1 hr
|
Discussion
" We kunnen dit beleid wel doorvoeren, baat het niet dann schaadt het niet"