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zittend ziekenvervoer
Feb 19, 2007 10:38
17 yrs ago
Dutch term

Hij droeg geen stropdas of Colbert, maar een das en een jasje.

Dutch to English Other Textiles / Clothing / Fashion
this refers to the words used by a man born in the East Indies and repatriated to the Netherlands after WWII. HIs Dutch is old-fashioned. Based on the context, jasje should be an old-fashioned way of saying colbert. I am at a loss for words to reflect this in English. Any ideas, please?
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 He didn't wear a suit, but a jacket and tie.
3 He didn't wear a blazer and jeans, but a suit and tie
3 blazer and tie // coat and tie

Discussion

Els Spin Feb 19, 2007:
According to my OED, a necktie is American, but also DATED English for a tie. A blazer is rather outdated for a jacket. So my solution would be: blazer and necktie vs jacket and tie.
CJG (X) Feb 19, 2007:
Correct that, YOU will have to make up your own mind
CJG (X) Feb 19, 2007:
Necktie is of course only American. Jasje dasje is still used frequently in the Netherlands and is not outdated in the sense you use. But I think I will have to make up your own mind on what words to use
Lindsay Edwards (asker) Feb 19, 2007:
CJGuy thanks for suggestion but I don't think it has anything to do with jasje dasje - merely rather outdated, rather formal Dutch usage. Blazer and jeans is too modern - we're thinking late 1940's -1950's.
Lindsay Edwards (asker) Feb 19, 2007:
Thanks Thanks Ken, I had already decided I would use necktie for tie, but hadn't realised that Americans now say coat for what I would have called a jacket (UK usage).
Ken Cox Feb 19, 2007:
If you want dated English, you have to pick a country. You'll also have to decide what register is appropriate (my apologies if I'm telling you what your already know). I'd say 'coat and tie' for recent US usage and 'jacket and necktie' for older usage.
Lindsay Edwards (asker) Feb 19, 2007:
More info this is a description of a man whose Dutch usage was old-fashioned in the late 1940's, so I am looking for old-fashioned (i.e. pre-World War II) words for jacket and tie - or for two other articles of men's clothing. thanks for any suggestions
DutchConnection Feb 19, 2007:
Difficult to be sure what the writer wants to convey here without reading the whole piece. Is he saying that this person wasn't aloof, didn't have airs and graces, for instance.
Kate Hudson (X) Feb 19, 2007:
That's what came to mind with me too, but without more context we're just grasping at straws.
CJG (X) Feb 19, 2007:
Would it be a reference to the Dutch saying "jasje dasje", meaning 'netjes'?
Kate Hudson (X) Feb 19, 2007:
Can you give us some more of the text around this sentence so that we can get a feel of it?

Proposed translations

2 hrs

He didn't wear a blazer and jeans, but a suit and tie

Declined
There are Dutch language 'traditionalists' who still refuse to use the word colbert instead of jasje (or trottoir instead of stoep) and I think this makes reference to that. However, it does not translate directly, because 'stropdas' and 'das' both translate to tie and 'colbert' and 'jasje' also have the same translation . This is just an idea to try and get around it.
Something went wrong...
+1
7 hrs

He didn't wear a suit, but a jacket and tie.

Declined
Checked this with my 84-year-old father, who confirmed that stropdas/Colbert is more formal than das/jasje. The latter two are used separately so the modern term 'jasje dasje' meaning more formal may not be intended here.
Peer comment(s):
agree Marlou Franken
3 hrs
Thanks Marlou.
Something went wrong...
415 days

blazer and tie // coat and tie

"Coat and tie" being a standard expression, US English.
Something went wrong...
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