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Table of Contents Describing People Historical Quotes Money Jobs, Work, Labor Things People Say Nonsense Statements Words of Wisdom Descriptive Situations Advice, Counsel, Recommendations, Commands Actions Marco's Choice

Dutch Sayings and Standard Phrases (Het) spreekwoord 2 - (de) uitdrukking 2 - (het) gezegde 'saying, standard phrase, proverb, idiom' - 'gezegde' may also mean 'the predicate,' what is said in a sentence about the subject - hear Dutch grammar terms standaarduitdrukkingen 2 standard, stock phrases Scattered over my website is a large number of Dutch lines and phrases. Frederick Roberts of Lincoln, England suggested to bring together on one page the sayings and stock expressions, the phrases that often go beyond their literal meaning. These are the kind of lines that often come out funny in computer translations. Most of these sayings are not basic conversation phrases. This is not a good page to start Learning Dutch - Program 3. But I do hope that those interested in the Dutch language will enjoy reading through the page, hearing the Dutch phrases and seeing what they mean. For a better understanding of the language, I provided the literal translation of some of the expressions. This is also a good page to train your hearing, when you can understand written Dutch but have difficulty with spoken Dutch. Maybe you'll someday impress your Dutch friends with an appropriate quote. Prêt à parler? Of course the more than 250 sayings on this page are only a fraction of the many Dutch sayings - I will keep adding new phrases. Some explanations of the sayings were found in Stoett Nederlandse Spreekwoorden en Gezegden (W.J. Thieme & Cie, Zutphen 1981) Chris from Yorkshire suggested some of the English equivalents of the sayings. Margreet Hirs told me the meaning of a saying and gave an explanation for it. More Phrases: Basic - Older Versions: 1 - 2 (no complete overlap) - Speaking Dutch, Speaking about Dutch Weather - Food and Drink - Sleep - Travel - The Senses Jobs and Lines of Work - Time - Dutch Fun Phrases Using Words - Likes and Loves - The Small Change of Conversation - Meet and Greet - Commenting on Statements and Opinions - Ziek - Talking about Not Feeling Well - Talking about Time - Chance, Luck, Outcomes and Risk - Why? - Because - The Reason - Cause & Effect - Expectations and What Happens Conversations Template Thesaurus Pages:  Time - Life - Change The Alliterations Page also has many Dutch Phrases, nice to read and hear, but of a more limited use than the material on this page. It is a long page - it may be better to read the page in installments, one or two chapters a day, not in one go. The table of contents links to the chapters, for your convenience when you return.

Describing People

also:  de gewone man 2 3 'the common man'
De opstand van de gewone mensen 2 3 4 The uprising, revolt of the common people

Saaie Piet a bore
Zeurpiet a person who nags a lot, complains about everything
Zit niet zo te zeuren 2 'Now stop that nagging' Pietje-precies a person who pays much attention to details and perfection

Brave Hendrik 2 also: Een brave borst 2 'an obedient, harmless person' - said of husbands and men in general, and good dogs are also called 'braaf'
Brave hond! 2 3
Dutch braaf 2 / brave 2 (braaf / brave 2 3) is a false friend - it does NOT mean 'courageous' like in English.

Ware Jacob 2 'True, real Jacob' - 'Mr. Right'

Jarige Job the birthday boy
Jarige Jet the birthday girl - Dutch Birthday

Smeerkees 2 a person who carelessly gets dirty doing a job
also:  Smeerpoets 2 3 a generally dirty, unclean person
Mafkees a guy deliberately behaving in an odd way, a goofball

Ongelovige Thomas a disbelieving Thomas, a person of small faith (from John 20:28)

Vrolijke Frans 'Jolly Francis' - a cheerful person

Razende Roeltje 'Roaring Roland' - a very energetic, quick person

Magere Hein 'Skinny Henry' - the Grim Reaper

Klaas Vaak 2 The Sandman
Houten Klaas 'Wooden Charles' - an awkward person
Jan Klaassen en Katrijn 'Punch and Judy'
(de) poppenkast 'a Punch and Judy show'

nieuwsgierig Aagje A curious, inquisitive young girl

(de) lastpost slow  /  (het) lastpak 2 3 a person who is a nuisance, a pain in the neck
(de) snotneus 2 3 (4) [snotty nose] 'whippersnapper' a guy too young for his position
(het) broekje small pants // ladies' underpants // whippersnapper - young man without experience
(de) wijsneus 2 a person who thinks he's wise and intelligent (but who is not)
(de) minkukel a jerk
(het) misbaksel 2 3 [mis-bake] - miscreant
(het) mispunt 2 3 unpleasant person
(de) gehaktbal 2 3 is the real '(ground) meat ball' ‑>>
but 'een bal gehakt' is usually 'an unpleasant person,' somewhat like English 'meatball'
Similarly,  'een zak patat' is literally 'a bag of French fries' but it usually means 'an unpleasant person'
(de) domoor 2 3 stupid person (usually said to children)
('de' - an exception to the rule that the last part of a compound word determines  de/het)
(de) sufferd 2 a not very bright person, a muddlehead
(de) flapdrol [flopping turd] - a ridiculous person, male
(de) oen 2 a stupid guy, a person who habitually acts in a stupid way
- hij is een oen he is stupid
(de) kwibus a weird, idiosyncratic person
- 'n rare kwibus 2
(de) pias 2 silly showman
(de) nietsnut 2 a good-for-nothing, useless person
(de) slijmbal 2 3 'a slippery person trying to come into your favor by sweet-talking'
(de) gladjakker smooth talker who tells you what you want to hear
(de) slome duikelaar 2 ( 3 4 ) [turgid dreidel] a dull, boring, low-energy person
(de) ongelikte beer 2 ['unlicked bear'] a rude person, no manners
(de) onverlaat 2 miscreant, a person breaking laws or rules

(het) lachebekje 2 a person, usually a girl, with a quick laugh
(een) geestig iemand 2 3 a witty person, making clever jokes
(de) laatbloeier late-flowering plant - also said of people who only reach their full potential later in life
(de) huilebalk 2 3 crybaby
(de) pretletter 2 3 a cheerful, happy small child

Ze is niet op haar mondje gevallen 2 3
Hij is niet op z'n mondje gevallen 2 3 4 ['She/He didn't fall on his mouth']
They never hesitate to speak up, they're not shy to speak their mind
(It's more commonly said about females than about males)

Praten als Brugman 2 3 ['to speak like Brugman'] - speaking in very convincing way
Brugman 2 was an early 16th Century catholic monk and preacher

Hij zit te zwammen He's talking nonsense Hij is in een slecht humeur He is in a bad mood Hij is in de war slow He is very confused

Hij is van slag 2 'He's not his usual self' - also said of clocks that are not running properly De kippen zijn van de leg 'The chickens are not laying eggs regularly' van de kook 2 3 ['off the boil' - no longer boiling] - confused, not his/her usual self

Hij bakt ze bruin ['He's baking them brown'] - He's going to extremes, he's behaving badly

Hij neemt geen blad voor de mond 2 3 ['He doesn't put a leaf in front of his mouth'] He speaks his mind freely, doesn't mince his words

Hij heeft vaker met dat bijltje gehakt 2 3 ['he has wielded that (little) axe before'] - 'He has done that before, he has the experience' (usually in a somewhat unpleasant task)

Hij is van alle markten thuis 2 ['He's at home in all markets'] - said of a versatile, practical person

Hij is 't zonnetje in huis 2 3 4 He is the cheerful one in the house, trying to brighten everyone's life

Hij kent z'n Pappenheimers 2 'He knows the people he's dealing with'
I used to think 'Pappenheimers' were a type of potato (like 'Eigenheimers') but Stoett says the saying comes from the German author Schiller and refers to a regiment of soldiers from a count named Pappenheim

Hij was des duivels 2 ['He was like possessed by the devil'?] - 'He was very angry'
'Des' and the  S of  'duivels' are an old-fashioned possessive also: Hij was razend 2 3 He was very angry

Hij laat er geen gras over groeien 2 3 ['He doesn't let (allow) grass grow over it'] - he's taking action immediately

Hij is lang van stof 2 [~'He talks at great length'] - 'His talking drags on and on'

Hij weet waar Abraham de mosterd haalt 2 'He knows where Abraham gets mustard' - said of a knowledgeable person, but it can also be said ironically of a not-too-bright person

Te dom om voor de duivel te dansen slow ['too stupid to dance for the devil'] - said of a not very bright person

Een aardje naar z'n vaartje 2 'a nature like his Dad' - he is like his Dad Hij gaat z'n vader achterna 2 3 4 He's taking after his dad, he's becoming like his dad Hij heeft 't niet van vreemden 2 3 4 5 [He doesn't have, get it from strangers] - He's like relatives, he takes after the family

Baas boven baas 2 ['boss over boss'] - 'There's always someone who can do it better' - said of someone who thinks too much of himself

Heer en meester 'Lord and master' - the ultimate authority, the person in power

Buiten z'n boekje 2 ['outside his little book'] - said of a person overstepping his authority

Anderhalve man en een paardenkop 2 ['one-and-a-half men and a horse's head'] - a disappointing turnout, low attendance, very few people present
Stoett (Nederlandse Spreekwoorden en Gezegden) says it's from
Tijl Uilenspiegel - home alone as a boy a horseman came by his house, and the horse stuck its head over the open top half of the double ('Dutch') door.

Recht door zee 2 3 [Straight through the sea] - said of a person who's honest and frank, a straight talker who doesn't sweet-talk

Een roepende in de woestijn 2 'A voice crying out in the wilderness' - from Mark 1:3, John the Baptist, a voice ignored, not heard
- in modern Dutch, (de) woestijn means 'desert'

Historical Quotes

I am attacking - follow me.
Ascribed to Rear Admiral Karel Doorman at the Battle of the Java Sea, 1942, his last message - but it may have been just a flag signal

Als de dagen lengen, gaan de nachten strengen 'As the days get longer, the nights will get [stricter] more severe'
Often said when referring to Willem Barentsz, who ca. 1600 searching for the North-East Passage got stuck in the ice and wintered on Nova Zembla with his crew - they only left their shelter in June

Vreemdeling, vertel de Spartanen ... 'Stranger, tell the Spartans ...' (Thermopylae monument inscription)

Wat doe je, als je dingen ziet die niemand ooit heeft gezien? 2 'What do you do, when you see things no one has ever seen [before]?'
- something that could have been said by
Anthonie van Leeuwenhoek 2 3 4 - 17th Century Dutch scientist, inventor of the microscope ‑>>

Al wat groeit en bloeit en ons telkens weer boeit 2 All things that grow and flower and fascinate us time and again
title of the nature segment of a popular radio program by Dr. Fop I. Brouwer
boeien 2 is literally 'to shackle, to handcuff,' but often means 'to captivate, to be fascinating'
Het boeide me niet 'It was not really interesting, I was bored by it'

Beter langharig dan kortzichtig! 2 'Better long-haired than short-sighted'
Sixties slogan protesting school principals ordering long-haired boys to get a haircut

Dit is gekkenwerk! 2 3 4 'This is a crazy way of doing things'
said by  Freule Wttewaal van Stoetwegen during a chaotic session of the Dutch House of Representatives

Alles sal reg kom (South African) 'Everything will [turn out to be] be OK'
Ascribed to South-African General De Wet (Generaal De Wet 2)

Money

De kost gaat voor de baat uit 2 Cost comes before profit - first, you need to invest
I used to think this expression meant that when considering a cure, cost is the most important criterium, Dutch frugality, and I used to put the stress in a different place

't Mag geen geld kosten ['It can't cost any money'] - It cannot have a significant cost, we don't want to pay serious money for it.

Daar kun je je geen buil aan vallen
Je kunt je d'r geen buil aan vallen
['You're not going to fall and get a bump'] 'it's not a significant amount of money' - often said to people who are deliberating about a small expense

Zonde van 't geld 2 3 ['A pity about the money'] - 'A waste of money, something not worth the expense' Weggegooid geld 2 ['money thrown away'] - 'money wasted, pointless spending'

Er zit geen brood in ['there [sits] is no bread in it'] - 'You can't make a living from it, it doesn't generate much income'

't Is geen vetpot ['It's not a pot of grease'] - there is not much money to be made from it

De tering naar de nering zetten 'to bring spending in line with income'
By itself, (de) tering also used to mean 'tuberculosis;'
(de) spijsvertering ('food processing') 'digestion'

Van de hand in de tand leven 'Living on very little money, without a steady source of income' - 'hand to mouth'

Voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rang 2 3 4 'The best seats in the house for a dime' - said of people who expect the world for a small payment

Geen geld, geen Zwitsers 2 ['no money, no Swiss'] - lack of money means no Swiss soldiers (in European history, the Swiss were famous as mercenaries) - some things won't happen without money

Hij zit aan de grond 2 3 ['he sits, is at the ground' - 'he's stuck at the lowest level'] - 'he's down and out' - out of options because no money

Jobs, Work, Labor

Opgestroopte mouwen 2 'rolled-up sleeves'
In the rivalry between Amsterdam and Rotterdam, Rotterdam is seen as the city that works, where people work hard. It is said that when you buy a dress shirt in Rotterdam, it comes with the sleeves already rolled up

Alle begin is moeilijk 2 3 'Every start, beginning is difficult' Een goed begin is het halve werk 'A good start is half the work, with a good start you're already halfway the job' Goed gereedschap is het halve werk 2 good tools [are half the job] make a job much easier

De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst ['the final weights are the heaviest'] - the final stage of a job is the most difficult

De laatste hand leggen aan ... [Laying the last hand to ...] - 'Applying the final touch to ...'

Roeien met de riemen die je hebt 2 ['rowing with the oars you've got'] - 'make the best of it with the material (and people) at hand'
- another word for 'oar' is: (de) roeispaan 2

De puntjes op de i zetten 2 "Dotting your i's (and crossing the t's)" - taking care of the final details

En klaar is Kees! ['... and Casey is done.'] - said when a job is done, a piece of work finished.

'n Fluitje van een cent 2 ['a penny whistle'] - 'a very easy piece of work, quickly done and no problem at all'

Van een leien dakje /
't Gaat van een leien dakje [Like a slate roof?] The job is going smoothly
(Maybe slate roofs were a radical improvement?)

't Geheim van de smid 2 ['the blacksmith's secret'] - a special way of doing something, a craftsman's special ability
also:   (de) slag 2 'knack'

(Not related) Aan de slag! 2 /or/ Aan 't werk! To work! Let's get started! Let's start working! More formal:  Laten we aan 't werk gaan. 2 Let's get to work, start working. -
More phrases with aan 't ‑>>

Hij gooit er met de pet naar 2 3 ['He's throwing his cap at it'] - 'He's not making a serious effort'

Op een laag pitje ['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner' - something given low priority, not pursued vigorously

Al doende leert men 2 3 ['while doing, you learn'] - 'practice makes perfect' Jong geleerd, oud gedaan 2 3 4 ['learned young, still doing it at old age'] what's learned young will still be easy at old age

De wind in de zeilen hebben 2 '[Having] Catching the wind in the sails, going full sail' - making good progress, doing well in business 't Gaat me voor de wind 2 'It's like I have the wind in my back' - I'm doing very well (in business)

Ik werk me te pletter 2 ['I'm crushed by work'] - 'I'm working very hard' Ik werk me een ongeluk 2 3
Ik werk me 'n ongeluk 2 'I'm working ["myself an accident"] very hard'
Both expressions usually indicate a contrast, like that the hard work is no use or doesn't bring in much of an income, or that other people are taking it easy

Een handje helpen 'to give, lend a hand, to help, assist' Ik hielp hem een handje 'I gave him a hand, I helped him' But:  Een hand geven 2 'to shake hands Ik gaf hem een hand 2 'I shook hands with him'

Laat je handjes maar een wapperen 2 ['Make your (little) hands wave frantically, snap'] - Get active! Get cracking!

In de benen! 2 ['on your legs'] - Get on your feet and move, get active!

Liever lui dan moe 2 [Rather lazy than tired] - preferring not making an effort

We zullen dat varkentje wel even wassen 3 4 ['Believe me, we'll get that piglet washed'] - 'We'll take care of it, we'll fix it, we'll sure get that job done'

Hout sprokkelen 2 means 'to gather firewood in the wild' like in a forest, and it's a lot of work to get together a sufficient amount. Likewise, in a modern setting,
Bij elkaar sprokkelen 2 means a laborious gathering of small amounts or things from many places

Er zit de klad in 2 3 A problem has come up and the process is no longer advancing well

't Is voor de bakker 2 3 [It's for the baker] - It's ready, the work is done, the task is finished
The expression is from the time when common people didn't have ovens and would at home prepare goods to be baked and then bring them to a baker

Things People Say

Onder ons gezegd en gezwegen ... 2 ['Spoken and silent between us'] 'Just between you and me ...'

... wat ik je brom 2 said after making a somewhat controversial statement, meaning 'it will turn out I was right about this'

Daar kun je donder op zeggen! 2 3 It will be like that, Absolutely! (That statement is absolutely correct)

't Is niet waar! ['It's not true!'] - ironic use, like 'You don't say!'

Maar niet heus! ['But not really'] 'NOT!'

Ik heb het met eigen ogen gezien 2 3 ['I've seen it with my own eyes'] - I witnessed it myself, personally

"Rij jij of rij ik?" 2 3 ['Are you driving or am I driving?'] - what an exasperated driver can say to passengers who criticize his or her driving.

De bliksem is zeker ingeslagen 2 3 'Lightning must have struck' - said when a traffic light takes long to change

Ga toch fietsen! 2 3 4 ['go ride a bike!'] - usually an exclamation of frustration with someone, like 'I don't believe you, stop bothering me, go take a hike'
Chris from Yorkshire suggests the British English equivalent 'On your bike!' Wat heb ik nou aan m'n fiets hangen? 2 3 4 ['What do I have hanging on my bike, what's hanging from my bike?'] - expression of surprise at a weird, unexpected situation you find yourself in ... op die  fiets! 2 3 'oh, in  that way' gewoon doorfietsen! 2 3 'Just keep pedaling, bike on' (Eddie van Halen said, "if you make a mistake, do it twice, and smile - that way, people will think you meant to do it that way." He shared a Dutch phrase of his father's, also a musician - quoted in The Wall Street Journal)

Ben je gek geworden? 'Have you gone crazy, are you out of your mind?' Ben je helemaal gek geworden? 'Have you gone completely crazy, are you out of your mind? What's with you?'

Ben je gek! 2 3 4 'You must be kidding' - said to someone who gives a wrong (usually complicated) explanation of your actions or motivation

Ik word er gek van 'It's driving me crazy'

't Gaat je niet in de kouwe (koude) kleren zitten 2 ['It's not going to stay in your (cold) outer clothes' but will penetrate deeper] - it affects you, it has an impact on your mood

't Gaat me boven de pet 2 'It's over my [cap] head' - I don't understand it, it's too difficult for me

Breek me de bek niet open '[Don't force open my mouth] Don't get me started, I don't want to talk about it.'
- But with a strong undertone that the speaker would have a lot of negative things to say about it.

Ik weet er alles van 2 'I know all about it' - not boasting about academic knowledge but stating familiarity with misfortune and adversity.

Beter laat dan nooit 'Better late than never'

Langzaam maar zeker 2 3 'Slowly but steadily, slow but sure'

Je wordt geflest waar je bij staat ['You're being cheated as you're standing by'] 'Some people shamelessly, barefacedly swindle you in your presence'
Said for instance when you have booked a car or a hotel room in advance but when you get there extra charges come up.

't Is geen zuivere koffie 2 3 quick ['it's not pure coffee - there's something wrong with that coffee'] - 'there's something fishy going on' Er zit een luchtje aan 2 ['There's a funny smell to it'] - 'there's something fishy about it' -
Note that the T of 'luchtje' is dropped Ik vertrouw 't niet helemaal 2 ['I do not completely trust it'] - 'there's something fishy about it'

In een kwade reuk staan 2 3 'to have a bad reputation' - So NOT the literal meaning 'being in a place of bad smell' Ik kan er niet bij 2 literally: 'I can't reach it,' but usually said as 'I don't understand, it's beyond me, I can't imagine what's in those people's minds' Wat bezielt die mensen? 'What's in those people's minds?'
(de) ziel 'soul' Wat bezielt die mensen om dat te doen? 2 3 'What makes those people do that?' Wat beweegt die mensen? 2 3 [What 'moves' those people?] - What is their motivation? (to do something commonly considered unpleasant, horrible)

Ik sta nergens meer van te kijken 2 'Nothing surprises me anymore' - Thank you, Johan! 't Verbaast me niks 2 'I'm not surprised at all'

Ik kon m'n oren niet geloven 2 3 ['I couldn't believe my ears'] - Hearing something incredible or something you had not thought possible

Hij keek z'n ogen uit 2 3 He really enjoyed seeing it (something unexpected)

Hij had er wel oren naar 2 3 ['he had ears for it'] - he'd like to join in (an activity)

Laat me niet lachen 2 ['Don't (let) make me laugh'] - 'That's ridiculous'

Er is niks aan te doen
Niks aan te doen! 2 3 ['Nothing can be done about it'] - 'It can't be helped'

Ik kan niet heksen 2 3 [I cannot 'witch' - I don't have supernatural powers] 'I'm doing it as fast as I can'

Daar was ik al bang voor 2 'I was already afraid of that'

Ik ben het beu 'I'm sick of it, I can't stand it anymore' Wat sneu 2 'What a pity, I'm sorry it ended that way'

Ik baal als een stier 2 3 '[I'm annoyed like a bull'] - I am deeply annoyed
(de) baaldag a day that you call in sick because you're depressed or angry, 'a mental healh sick day' as a colleague used to say

Ik verveel me te pletter 2 3 [literally, something like 'I'm crushed by boredom'] - 'I am bored stiff'

Ik lap 't aan m'n laars 2 ['I'm sticking it to my boot'] I don't care about, I'm ignoring that comment or rule You can also say:
Ik trek me er niks van aan 2
or:  ik trek me d'r niks van aan 2 3
with a similar meaning

Ik werd er helemaal naar van ['It made me feel miserable all over'] - a horrible event or fear made me sick Ik sta te trillen op m'n benen 2 ['I'm shaking on my legs'] - 'I'm trembling with fear or from fatigue'

Ik word geleefd ['I am being lived'] - 'I have no life of my own' - duties, demands and obligations leave very little time for myself

Ik ben helemaal gaar ['I'm fully cooked'] - I've had it, I'm done for - I've worked on this, lived with this for too long

Om 't af te leren 2 3 'to unlearn it,' 'to break the habit' - said when you take one too many drinks or snacks

Door schade en schande wijs geworden 2 3
Door schade en schande '(educated) by damage and shame' - the school of hard knocks

Het leed is geleden 2 'The suffering is over'

Dat is verleden tijd 2 3 'That is past, that is over' - "That's history"

Oud nieuws 2 'old news'
Dat is oud nieuws 2 'That's old news'

Geen centje pijn ['Not a penny of pain/trouble'] - 'No sweat, it doesn't (or didn't) take any effort'

Als morgen de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe muts 2 3 'If the sky falls tomorrow we'll all have a blue cap' - said in annoyed reaction to someone bringing up unpleasant scenarios ('now if the train is late, and if there is no coffee on the train ...')

Dan is 't voorbij met de pret
Dan is 't uit met de pret 2
Dan is 't gedaan met de pret 2 3 ['(And) then it's done with the fun'] -'the fun is over' - said when things return to normal after a respite or go from normal to a much worse situation - a little stronger than 'the honeymoon is over'

't Komt niet zo nauw 2 'There is no need for much precision or strictness, there is a lot of leeway, a wide margin'

Opgeruimd staat netjes ['Cleared up, stored away looks neat'] 'Things out of the way looks good'

Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet 2 3 4 ['What the peasant doesn't know he doesn't like']
'The peasant doesn't like the unfamiliar' - commenting on a reluctance to even taste unfamiliar food

Het oog is groter dan de maag 2 ['the eye is bigger than the stomach'] - said when you can't finish the food you put on your plate

Hij lust er wel pap van 2 3 ['~he would really like it as porridge' -> he would like it for dessert too, he likes it as much as the dessert]
- A food or pleasant activity he can't get enough of

Te veel van 't goede 2 'Too much of a good thing' (say, cherry juice)

Hoe groter geest, hoe groter beest 2 3 4 'The greater the mind, the more like a beast' - great intellects often behave badly

Waarin een klein land groot kan zijn 'Big things a small country can do, A small country can do big things'
Said when Holland is setting an example

Holland op z'n smalst 2 'Holland at its most narrow'
- in Dutch,  'Holland' 2 means only a part of the country of The Netherlands. (more.) Before the great land reclamations, there used to be a narrow strip of land North-West of Amsterdam connecting two parts of 'Holland.' Later, the expression came to mean 'Dutchmen in their most narrow-minded attitude.'
(de) kneuterigheid 'Dutch small-mindedness, pettiness'
Generally, 'small minded, petty' is kleinzielig
and  (de) kleinzieligheid is 'pettiness, small-mindedness'
- related: (de) betutteling 2 'bureacrats (or others in positions of power) treating people like children'

Verstand op nul 2 'I'm shutting down my brain'
- often combined with: Blik op oneindig 2 3 'Set eye focus to infinity' - 'the thousand-mile stare'?
Said when starting a mindless job or when doing something you don't want to think about.

Niet voor herhaling vatbaar 2 3 [After a disappointment: 'not to be repeated'] - 'Let's not do (or have) that again'

Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel 2 3 4 ['However quick a lie may be, the truth will overtake it'] - Lies won't last, truth will come out eventually

De zoete inval 2 ['the sweet invasion'] - said when a large number of people unexpectedly gather at your house (also a name for cafés, restaurants)

't Zal me worst wezen 2 ['It will be sausage to me'] - 'I don't care at all'

Hij timmert aardig aan de weg 2 3 He is well-known for his activities, his activities have made him rather well-known

Samen uit, samen thuis ['Leaving together, going home together'] 'We're in this together'

Je moet de sokken d'rin zetten 2 3 ["You have to put the socks in it"] Zet de sokken erin! 2 ["Put the socks in it!"] - 'run faster,' 'speed up'

Je hebt 't rijk alleen 2 ['You have the realm to yourself'] - said when you leave one person by themselves in a house or an office

Hij heeft de smaak te pakken 2 [~He was captured by the taste] - he really likes it (a new activity)

Ik zag 't niet meer zitten ['I didn't see it sit anymore,' I didn't see things in place anymore] - I was depressed

Een huishouden van Jan Steen 2 3 4 A messy household - like in some Jan Steen paintings
Jan Steen 2 3 (1626-1679)

Je hebt er een handje van ... 2 3 4 'You tend to ..., it's a habit of yours to ...'

Dat zou zuur zijn 2 That would be sad, a disappointment

Niks mis mee 2 There's nothing wrong with that

Stank voor dank 2 3 [Stink as gratitude] - no gratitude, no appreciation, or even a hostile reaction to kindness

(de) kwaaie pier 2 3 the person or thing blamed for a problem Aquamacs is de kwaaie pier 2 3 Aquamacs is seen as the cause of the problem (de) boosdoener 2 3 the person or thing causing trouble, evildoer, villain

Voor spek en bonen 2 3 4 5 [for bacon and beans] - not being a full participant, joining as a non-competing participant

Nonsense Statements

'The exception that confirms the rule'
This is of course a nonsense remark. Logically, if there is an exception a rule is not valid. (Het) tegenvoorbeeld 2 'counter-example.' I read somewhere that the Latin original says something like 'the exception that tests the rule.'

Drie maal is scheepsrecht 2 '[three times is ship's law] - the third time is the charm'
'Third time lucky' in the UK -
Number three is often found in old Western, Indo-European culture

Bitter in de mond maakt het hart gezond 2 'bitter in the mouth makes the heart healthy'
nonsense remark about the supposed health benefits of bitter-tasting medicine or food

Wat je ver haalt is lekker 2 ['What you get from far away tastes good'] 'Exotic food is always good'

Words of Wisdom

'fear and dread'
(de) vrees is when you know what you're afraid of,
(de) angst is an undefined fear

Doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg 2 'Just do like you always do, that's enough craziness already'

De beste stuurlui staan aan wal 'The best ship officers are on the shore'
It's easy to criticize from a distance, when you're not involved

Elk vogeltje zingt zoals 't gebekt is ['Each bird sings as its beak is'] - 'You can't change a nature' - 'A leopard can't change its spots.'

Over smaak valt niet te twisten 2 '[You can't argue about taste] - There's no accounting for taste'  De gustibus non disputandum

't Is niet alles goud wat er blinkt 2 'It's not all gold that glitters / Not all shiny things are golden' - 'All that glitters is not gold.'

Hoge bomen vangen veel wind ['Tall trees catch much wind'] - The high, mighty and famous catch much flak, get a lot of criticism

Geduld is een schone zaak 'Patience is good (but difficult)' - 'Patience is a virtue'

Beter een goede buur dan een verre vriend 2 'a good neighbor is more useful ' than a faraway friend'

Velen worden geroepen, maar weinigen worden uitgekozen Many are called, but few are chosen

Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet 2 ['hunger makes raw beans sweet'] - Want changes your perception

Uit het oog, uit het hart 2 3 4 ['out of eye, out of heart'] - 'out of sight, out of mind'

Alles grijpt in elkaar 2 'everything is connected, all things hang together'

Geen rozen zonder doornen ['No roses without thorns'] - 'Nice things always come with problematic attachments' - 'there is no rainbow without rain'

Onkruid vergaat niet 'Weeds can't be killed' - I used to think this meant that the nature of naughty boys can't be changed, but it seems to be more about the permanence of serious evil and profiteering.

Wie schrijft, die blijft ['he who writes, stays (in the game)'] - the player who records the scores will not let himself be eliminated

't IJzer smeden als 't heet is 2 3 '[Forge] Work the iron when it's hot' Je moet ijzer smeden als 't heet is 2 3 'You should work the iron when it's hot' - Do something at the right moment

Beidt Uw tijd 2 3 'Bide your time' - be patient, wait for the right moment

Wie niet waagt, die niet wint 2 ['He who doesn't take risks is not going to [win] gain'] - 'no risk, no gain'
The English equivalant is a positive statement: 'He who dares, wins'  (the motto of the British Army Special Forces unit SAS) - thank you Chris

Wie niet sterk is moet slim zijn ['Those who are not strong (powerful) ...'] - 'If you're not strong you have to be clever'

Alles met mate 'Be moderate in everything'

Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald 2 'It's better to [turn] change direction halfway than to be wrong all the way'

Gedane zaken nemen geen keer 2 3 'What's done is done' (You can't turn around what's done in the past)

Spreken is zilver, zwijgen is goud 2 ['speaking is silver, keeping silent is gold'] - speaking is good, but keeping silent is better
'Speech may be silver, but silence is golden'

Lachen is gezond 2 'to laugh is good for your health'

Als de vos de passie preekt ... 2 'When the fox preaches about Christ's suffering ...' (watch out for hypocrites)

Het bezit van de zaak is het eind van het vermaak 2 3 'Ownership is the end of pleasure' - probably meaning that working towards goals is the interesting part; having reached goals boredom may set in

Gedeelde smart is halve smart 'Shared grief is halved grief'

Vis moet zwemmen 2 3 4 'Fish has to swim, fish gotta swim' - drink well when you're eating fish

Verandering van spijs doet eten 2 [Change of food makes people eat] - Food variety helps the appetite
(de) spijs is an old-fashioned word for 'food' ‑>>

Wie met pek omgaat wordt ermee besmet 2 3 4 [He who handles, deals with pitch gets contaminated by it] - He who touches pitch will be defiled - dealing with evil will easily change you for the worse

De aanhouder wint He/she who perseveres will win, succeed

Waar een wil is, is een weg 2 3 Where there's a will, there's a way - determination will get you where you want to go - 'you can get it if you really want it'

Wie dan leeft, wie dan zorgt 2 3 He/She who then lives, can then deal with the problems - don't worry too much about the future

Geen rook zonder vuur [No smoke without (a) fire] - where there's smoke, there's fire

Een woordenboek is een leugenboek A dictionary is [a book] full of lies

Goed voorbeeld doet volgen 2 3 Good example will be followed

Meten is weten 2 3 ['to measure is to know'] - measurements create, build knowledge - thank you, Gabriel

De mens wikt, God beschikt 2 3 'Man deliberates, God decides'
Yiddish: "Der mensch tracht und Gott lacht:" Man tries/atttempts/plans, and God laughs."

Descriptive

Hij sliep als een os 2 'He was sleeping like [an ox] a log' Ze sliep als een roos 2 3 'She was sleeping [like a rose, beautifully] ' comfortably'
So Dutch men are said to deep-sleep like oxen but Dutch females like roses. Hij viel als een blok in slaap 2 3 'He fell asleep very quickly' ('like a log')

Zo dood als een pier dead like a [rainworm] doornail, dead like disco

Zo fris als een hoentje ['as fresh (new?) as a young chicken'] in very good shape, wide awake, well rested and feeling healthy - 'as fit as a fiddle' Ik voel me kiplekker 2 'I feel great, couldn't feel better'
kiplekker 2
it's a mystery to me why chickens are seen as paragons of health

Als er één schaap over de dam is ... 2 3 ['If one sheep has [crossed the dam] entered the meadow ... (more will follow)'] - an example will be followed

op 't nippertje 'in the nick of time, at the last moment, just in time' op de valreep 'at the last possible moment // while saying goodbye'

Uit de losse pols ['from the loose wrist'] - off the cuff, improvising, like for instance giving a very rough estimate

Zonder blikken of blozen 2 ['without batting an eye or blushing'] - shamelessly doing something questionable

't Is zwaar te verteren 2 3 It's [heavy] 'hard to digest' - usually said of unpleasant knowledge or things you just have to accept

Daar is de Engelse schroevendraaier gebruikt 'The English screwdriver was used there' - a screw was hammered in
In English there are many negative phrases with the word 'Dutch,' but in Dutch there are only a few negative mentions of English.
Chris from Yorkshire tells me there is the British expression 'a Birmingham screwdriver'  for this bad practice

Als mosterd na de maaltijd 2 'Like mustard after the meal' - something that comes in too late and is now useless

De hond in de pot vinden ['finding the dog in the cooking pot'] Dan vind je de hond in de pot 2 'Then you'll find the dog in the cooking pot'
- When you're very late for a meal, you may find the dog eating the leftovers - general meaning: coming late you may be left empty-handed

Roet in 't eten gooien 'throwing soot in the food' - ruining plans Je moet geen roet in 't eten gooien 'Don't ruin the plans'

In geuren en kleuren 2 (3) [in smells and colors] in full detail, an elaborate, lively description

Dat is een ander verhaal 2 'That's another story' 't Is maar een verhaaltje 'It's only a story'

De kat op het spek binden 2 ['tying the cat to the bacon'] - (to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'

De kat uit de boom kijken 2 ['looking the cat out of the tree'] - like a dog not climbing a tree after a cat, 'waiting to see how things develop, taking no action'

Ouwe koeien uit de sloot halen 2 [dredging up old cows from the ditch] pointless talk about foregone matters, flogging a dead horse

Tussen de wal en 't schip 2 ['(falling) between the quay and the ship'] - 'to fall between two stools'

met man en muis vergaan [to perish with man and mouse] - said of ships being lost completely, no survivors, nothing recovered

Achter 't net vissen 2 ['fishing behind the net'] - not catching anything, not getting what you want

Niet over één nacht ijs gaan 2 3 ['Not walking on ice of one night'] - 'to be careful, to proceed with much caution, not do risky things'

Een advies in de wind slaan 2 slow ['Throw an advice to the wind'] - ignoring sensible counsel

Kapers op de kust ['pirates on the coast'] - There are competitors about

Bij gebrek aan beter 'Lacking a better alternative'

Met alle mogelijke middelen 2 'With all possible means'

Vechten tegen de Bierkaai
't Is vechten tegen de Bierkaai 2 3 ['it's like fighting the Bierkaai'] ' - A hopeless struggle, a fight you can't possibly win'
'De Bierkaai' 2 ('Beer Quay'?) was a rowdy neighborhood in old Amsterdam

In de aap gelogeerd ['lodging at the Monkey's?'] - in trouble, not in a good place

Ik lachte me een kriek 'I laughed a lot' [so much that it hurt]

Een veer laten ['dropping a feather'] - accept a loss, make a concession

Water bij de wijn doen 2 3 'Mixing water into the wine' - going for a compromise Water bij de wijn 2

Hij houdt z'n poot stijf ['he's keeping his paw stiff'] - 'he's not giving in'

't Ligt voor de hand literally: 'it's close at hand,' but it usually means 'it's obvious'

Als een mes door de boter 'Like a knife [cutting] through butter' - very easily Een druppel op een gloeiende plaat 2 3 ['a drop of water on a red-hot surface'] - 'too little' - a totally ineffective remedy or an attempt to help that falls far short

Met de deur in huis vallen ['storming into the house, flattening the door'] - to come straight to the point, without delay or hesitation

Een heet hangijzer 2 A problem that's hard to handle and not going away

de hele santekraam 'the whole shebang, kit and kaboodle'

bepakt en bezakt ['packed and bagged, with packs and bags ready'] - ready for travel

Van de hak op de tak springen 2 3 'in conversation, frequently and (apparenty) at random changing the subject'

Dag in, dag uit 2 ['Day in, day out'] - Every day

Een dag als alle andere 2 3 ['a day like all others'] - 'Just another day'

Op een blauwe maandag ['On a blue monday'] For a short, insignificant time in the past

Met het oog op morgen 2 'With an eye on tomorrow' - taking the future into? consideration

Oog om oog, tand om tand 'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth' - 'tit for tat' - archaic justice

De tijd vliegt 'time flies' - 'time passes quickly' Waar blijft de tijd? 2 3 4 5 'Where does the time go?' - sadly recalling good things that are past, forever gone Gezelligheid kent geen tijd 2 [Good times know of no clocks] - 'Time flies when you're having a good time with friends'

Gebed zonder end ['prayer without end'] something taking very long Er komt geen eind aan 2 'There is no end to it, it goes on for a very long time' 't Eind is zoek ['The end cannot be found'] - things are escalating, where will it end?

Vroeger was alles beter ['In the past everything was better'] 'Everything was better in the past'

Uit de oude doos 2 3 4 ['from the old box'] - 'something old, old-fashioned'
The common word for 'old-fashioned' is:
ouderwets Dat is zo ouderwets! 'that's so old-fashioned!'

Zo oud als de weg naar Kralingen 2 3 ['As old as the road to Kralingen'] - old as the hills
An old saying that got a new life when the Dutch Woodstock was held in the village of
Kralingen (1970)

Je kunt er geen touw aan vastknopen 2 ['you can't tie a rope to it'] - 'it's incomprehensible'

De knoop doorhakken 2 'cutting (through) the knot' - taking a decision after long deliberations

Je kunt wel zien uit welke hoek de wind waait 2 ['You can see from which corner the wind is blowing'] - 'You can see where that's coming from, what's behind it'

Een oogje in het zeil houden 2 ['to keep an eye on the sail'] - to watch over something or someone Iemand die een oogje in het zeil houdt 2 Someone to watch over someone or something

(het) gat 'hole' - note vowel lengthening in the plural:  gaten 2 3 / gat/gaten ‑>>
- Stoett says  'gaten' in the next phrases probably means 'look-holes, eyes'
Hou(d) 't goed in de gaten 2 (saying) Keep it well in sight, watch it closely Je moet 't goed in de gaten houden 2 3 You have to watch it closely 't Loopt in de gaten 2 3 4 5 [It walks into the eyes] - It's attracting attention, it's becoming conspicuous

En dan komt de aap uit de mouw 2 3 4 ['And then the monkey comes out of the sleeve']
- the moment that the hidden motives come out, when it is revealed what's behind something

Raar maar waar Strange (weird) but true

'Zeer' 2 is an old-fashioned word that can mean 'very' and also 'hurt' (think of 'sore')
Zeer vereerd ['much honored'] - I'm honored oud zeer ['old hurt'] historical wrongs, unresolved issues from the past - a grudge? Tegen 't zere been 2 3 ['Against the sore leg'] - figuratively hitting someone in a sensitive, already sore spot, like pointing out an already acknowledged failure Doet 't zeer? 2 Does it hurt?

Tegen heug en meug 'Doing something under strong protest, like having to eat something you really don't like'

Een bittere pil 2 'a bitter pill' - Something unpleasant you have to get through or live with

(Het is ) boter aan de galg ['It's butter on the gallows'] - something valuable wasted, a useless effort

Boter op z'n hoofd 2
Hij heeft boter op z'n hoofd 2 3 ['(he has) butter on his head'] - he should stay away from heat or it will melt - meaning: "he's criticizing others, but he's not innocent himself: he is a hypocrite"
- 'huichelaar' 2 schijnheilig 2 3 [seemingly holy] - pretending to be a good person 'Hij heeft' sometimes contracts to:  "hij'ft" -
Hij'ft boter op z'n hoofd

Een koekje van eigen deeg 2 ['a cookie of (your) own dough'] - 'a taste of your own medicine'
- you yourself getting the bad treatment you thought up for (or already meted out to) others

Een sigaar uit eigen doos 2 3 ['A cigar from your own box'] - Something is presented as a gift, but it turns out you have to pay for it

Je moet een gegeven paard niet in de bek kijken 2 3 'You shouldn't look into the mouth of a gift horse' - don't criticize a present

't Is een aflopende zaak 2 'it's going downhill, it's on its last legs'

Onder vier ogen 2 ['Under four eyes'] - 'in private, one-on-one conversation'

Gevoel van eigenwaarde ['sense of one's own worth'] - 'self-esteem'

De dorst naar kennis "the thirst for knowledge"

De klant is koning 'the customer is king' - the customer's opinion is the most important (we hope)

't Zit als gegoten ['It fits like it was cast'] - said of well-fitting clothes

In modern Dutch,  stout means 'naughty.' (Another word for 'naughty' is  'ondeugend' 2 3 4) In older Dutch,  'stout' meant 'bold, brave' like in the Burgundian Duke   Karel de Stoute 'Charles the Bold,' who actually was more reckless than brave. Sayings often retain the old meaning.
De stoute schoenen aantrekken 2 3 ['putting on the brave shoes'] - 'doing something bold' Trek de stoute schoenen aan 2 3 ['put on the brave shoes'] - 'be brave, do that bold thing'

Een ongeluk zit in een klein hoekje ['an accident is in a small corner'] - accidents can happen in unexpected places (and unexpectedly)

't Verdwijnt als sneeuw voor de zon 2 'It disappears like snow [before] in the sun'

't Regent pijpenstelen [The rain is coming down in trickles like pipe stems (those long, stone stems of old 'Gouda' pipes)] Very heavy rain 't Viel met bakken uit de hemel 2 3 It (rain) fell from the sky ['with' boxes] in buckets 't Valt met bakken uit de hemel 2 It (rain) is falling from the sky in buckets

Van 't kastje naar de muur 2 ['from the cabinet to the wall'] Van Pontius naar Pilatus ['from Pontius to Pilate']
both mean: sent on pointless errands, 'from pillar to post'

Ik zuig 't niet uit m'n duim 2 3 ['I'm not sucking it from my thumb'] - 'I'm not making it up' (it's true, I'm telling you what I heard, what I've seen)

Kind aan huis 2
Hij is er kind aan huis 2 3 ['He is like a child of that house'] - 'He often visits and acts as if he lives there'

Een kind kan de was doen 2 3 ['A child can do the laundry'] - It's a very easy job

Je hebt geen kind aan hem 2 3 ['He won't be like a child (to you)'] - He's very easy, no trouble at all, doesn't need special care

't Is allemaal één pot nat 2 3 ['It's all one jar of liquid'] - 'It's all the same, All those things are actually identical'

Dweilen met de kraan open 2 3 ['Mopping up while the faucet is running'] - doing something but not addressing the cause of the problem

Een gevoelige snaar raken 2 3 'touching a sensitive string' ~ touching a raw nerve
- Dutch'(de) snaar' is a string of a musical instrument

Elkaar voor rotte vis uitmaken 2 3 4 'Calling each other spoiled (rotten) fish' - mutual insulting, 'calling each other names'

Als klap op de vuurpijl ['As a bang to the flare rocket'] - a grand ending

Iemand een hart onder de riem steken 2 3 ['Put a heart under someone's belt'] - to encourage, support a person (Stoett says the belt in the image is a soldier's diagonal shoulder strap)

't Heeft veel voeten in aarde 2 3 4 ['It has many feet in the soil'] - 'It's a very complicated process' (Stoett says the image is removing a tree with many roots)

Hij zag de bui al hangen 2 3 ['He had already seen the rainshower "hanging"'] - 'He understood trouble was brewing'

't Zal wel niet zo'n vaart lopen 2 3 4 ['It's not going to pick up speed'] - It won't happen soon (don't worry about it)

Uit 't diepst van m'n hart 2 'From the bottom of my heart'

Ik wil hem niet voor de voeten lopen 2 3 ['I don't want to walk in front of his feet'] - I don't want to be in his way (figuratively, hinder him) Iemand voor de voeten lopen 2 3 4 5 to be in someone's way (figuratively)

Knollen voor citroenen verkopen 2 [selling turnips as lemons] - 'fooling someone' - the common meaning is not the literal cheating in sales but making false promises, feeding impossible dreams etc. (The saying is from a time when lemons were expensive and in demand)

Ze kijken op ons neer They look down on us uit de hoogte 2 3 4 5 [from a height] - arrogantly, feeling superior (de) minachting 2 3 contempt

Met een schone lei beginnen 2 Starting with a clean slate (a new beginning without baggage)

(lopende band 2 3 [running belt] conveyor belt, assembly line) Aan de lopende band 2 'Like coming off a conveyor belt' - ceaselessly, continually (said for instance of someone producing an endless series of jokes)

Als een kip zonder kop 2 3 'Like a chicken without its head' - acting irrationally

Ze keek alsof ze 't in Keulen hoorde donderen 2 3 4 5 'She looked (the look on her face was) as if she heard [it thundering] thunder rumbling in Cologne' - great surprise at hearing something completely unexpected

We zijn niet van suikergoed 2 3 'We are not made of [confectionery] sugar' - we are not fragile, we can handle shocks, mishap and adversity also:  We kunnen tegen een stootje 2 3 4 [We can stand some pushing/poking]

Je hebt 't zelf in de hand 2 3 ['You have it in your hand yourself'] - It's in your own hands (you can take a decision, you can take action)

De vuile was buiten hangen 2 3 [hanging the dirty laundry outside] - 'airing the dirty laundry' - a public showing of private problems

iemand naar de mond praten 2 3 ['Speaking towards someone's mouth'] - Trying to get into a person's favor by saying what he wants to hear

Een vreemde eend in de bijt [a strange duck in the hole in the ice] - A stranger among us/you/them

een kunst en een kunde 2 'an art and a (learned) skill'
- some things are not just applying science ‑>>

Een dubbeltje op z'n kant 2 [A dime on its edge] - the outcome is very uncertain

Met de Noorderzon vertrokken 2 [Departed at the North Sun hour] - 'Secretly disappeared at midnight' (leaving unfinished business and/or debts behind)

Hij is in z'n element 2 3 'He is in his element' - he's doing something he likes and that he does well

Door de zure appel heen bijten 2 3 ['Biting through the sour apple'] - an unpleasant task that needs to be performed, accepting something that can't be ignored or changed ~ 'swallow the pill'

Iets door de vingers zien 2 3 4 ['to see something through the fingers' - that is: not seeing some small things] - deliberately overlooking minor infractions, ignoring small mistakes and irregularities

Tussen de regels door lezen 2 3 'Reading between the lines' - to notice not just what's written but also what's implied and/or left out

Ik voel nattigheid 2 3 ['I feel wetness'] - There's something fishy (to it) - I don't trust it

Ik heb er een zwaar hoofd in 2 3 4 ['I have a heavy head about it'] - I'm not optimistic about it, I doubt that it's going to work or end well

Vel over been 2 3 4 ['skin covering bones'] - skin and bones - said of a very thin person
'(het) been' 2 3 is an old-fashioned word for 'bone.' The modern Dutch word for 'bone' is  (het) bot - '(het) been' nowadays means 'leg'

Ik hang 't niet aan de grote klok 2 ['I'm not hanging it on the big bell'] - I'm keeping quiet about it, ~I'm not shouting it from the rooftops

't Is koren op je molen 2 3 ['It's grain on (for) your mill' ]
- (het) koren 2 is 'grain, cereal,' not 'corn, maize'
- it confirms your (in the eyes of the speaker wrong) ideas - so it's not exactly equivalent to 'grist for the mill'

Neem niet teveel hooi op je vork 2 ['Don't put too much hay on your (hay)fork'] - Don't take on too heavy a burden, too big a task

Wachten tot je een ons weegt 2 3 4 ['waiting until you weigh 100 grams (~3 ounces)'] - a never-ending wait

Een kinderhand is gauw gevuld 2 3 ['A child's hand is quickly filled'] - children don't need much to be happy

Ze weten niet van ophouden 2 3 4 ['They don't know about stopping'] - They go on an on, they never stop Hij weet niet van ophouden 2 3

Hij sprong een gat in de lucht 2 3 4 ['He jumped a hole in the air'] - he was very happy, ~ he was over the moon (not necessarily jumping for joy)

Neem 't ter harte 2 [Take it to heart] - Take heed! Pay attention to it, act accordingly

(de) knauw 2 3 4 5 6 serious animal bite
Daar krijg je een knauw van 2 3 [That bites you] - That causes much damage to you (a setback in attitude, outlook) - 'It takes a big bite out of your self-confidence'

Iemand iets door de neus boren 2 3 4 [to drill something through someone's nose] - to deny someone something that he or she deserved to get or was very close to getting, someone else got it Stoett says it's from the painful insertion of a ring into a service animal's nose
De prijs werd hem door de neus geboord 2 3 4 He was denied the prize, he didn't get the award he deserved and was expecting (someone else got it)

Doen alsof je neus bloedt 2 3 4 Acting as if your nose is bleeding - pretending to attend to a nosebleed and not reacting to what's going on Moet ik dan maar doen alsof m'n neus bloedt? 2 3 4 Should I (then) just pretend to have a nosebleed and not pay attention and react to what's happpening around me?

We kunnen 't missen als kiespijn 2 3 We really don't need it, we can do without it like we can do without a toothache

in de kiem smoren 2 3 'to nip in the bud' - stop something in an early stage

Ik hou m'n hart vast 2 3 [I'm holding onto my heart] - I'm worried about someone doing something that could end badly

't Is een wassen neus 2 3 4 5 [It's a wax nose] - It's a meaningless, inconsequential formality

op eigen benen staan 2 3 4 5 standing on your own [legs] feet, being independent - note that Dutch has 'legs' instead of 'feet' and doesn't have 'your'

met twee maten meten 2 'Using two measuring systems (yardsticks)' - applying double standards, a biased approach

Van dik hout zaagt men planken 2 3 (saying) Boards are sawn from big, fat wood - said of a task perfromed very well and also royally, generously amply, with extras

een dikke huid hebben 2 3 (saying) [having a thick skin, being thick-skinned] - not very sensitive to criticism and insults

Misschien komt 't wel weer boven water 2 3 4 [Maybe it'll come above water again sometime] - only figuratively: Maybe it (an item that was lost, cannot be found) will turn up again

buiten westen ['out in the West'] - unconscious. Stoett says the expression is from the old days before compasses, clocks and sextants, Dutch sailors who lost sight of the coast in the East

met lege handen 2 3 4 'with hands empty,' not bringing anything or without results

natte-vingerwerk 2 3 ['wet-finger work' - like determining wind direction by lifting a wetted finger] - an imprecise, unscientific approach to taking measurements, or a clumsy method in general

Situations

't Loopt uit de hand 2 3 'It's getting out of hand, escalating, control is lost'

De teerling is geworpen 2 'the die is cast' - a risky venture has started, passed a point of no return
- Dutch teer (teder ) means 'tender, fragile' - I used to think the literal meaning of the phrase was that something vulnerable had been exposed.

De bom is gebarsten 2 ['the bomb has burst, exploded'] 'The dreaded event has come to pass, things have escalated, come to a head'

Alle hens aan dek! 2 3 'All hands on deck'  Dutchified English phrase, 'All crew to stations'

Er zit geen schot in 2 3 4 5 'There is very little progress, things got stuck'

Je kunt er niet omheen 2 3 ['you can't pass around it'] 'You can't ignore it, you'll have to deal with it

Het gaat de mist in 2 ['It fades into the fog'] A performance doesn't work out, ends weak - "fades" Er gaat er wel eens een de mist in 2 Occasionally, a song or a piece fails

't Is een uitdaging 2 3 'It's a challenge'

In de piepzak zitten 'to be afraid'

Met de handen in het haar 2 ['With the hands in the hair'] - despairing, not knowing what to do

De stilte voor de storm The quiet before the storm, or figuratively: before a major event

Geen wolkje aan de lucht 2 [Not a cloud in the sky] - No problems are expected

Een geluk bij een ongeluk 2 ['a lucky coincidence with an accident'] - a bright, hopeful spot in a bad event (het) lichtpuntje ['point of light'] - a (small) hopeful sign in a mostly bad situation

't Kan vriezen en 't kan dooien [It may freeze or it may thaw] - Things can go either way

't Is hollen of stilstaan 2 3 4 ['It's either running or staying put'] - 'When it rains, it pours'

Als puntje bij paaltje komt 'When push comes to shove, at the moment of truth'

Dan zijn we nog verder van huis 2 3 ['Then we'll be even farther from home'] - Making an already bad situation worse

Van de regen in de drup 2 3 4 ['From the rain into a drip'] - 'From the frying pan into the fire'- a move that didn't improve your already bad situation

Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren 2 3 ['But we are left with the baked pears'] - But we are the ones that have to pick up the pieces, or more precisely: we are left with an unwanted responsibility

De druppel die de emmer deed overlopen 2 3 '[The drop that caused the bucket to spill over] - The straw that broke the camel's back'

Laten we niet te hard van stapel lopen [Let's not launch too quickly] - Let's not go ahead too fast

Dan heb je de poppen aan het dansen 2 3 ['Then you'll have the puppets dancing' - the show will start] - 'then the fat is in the fire, all hell will break loose' Dan heb je 't gedonder in de glazen 2 3 4 [probably something like 'then your windows will rattle'] - 'then trouble begins, things will get lively'

Door de rooie gaan ['crossing the red one (red line)'] - 'to become irrational' (because of exhaustion or anger)
- in colloquial Dutch, the D of rode  often softens to a Dutch-J (English consonant-Y) sound: rooie - hear:
rood - rode - rooie 2

Over de schreef gaan 2 ['overstepping the "scratch mark," go beyond the pale'] - going too far, into indecent, unacceptable behavior

Met de ouderdom komen de gebreken 2 'With old age, defects appear' De dagen zat 2 ['I've had my fill of days'] - 'Tired of the days' - Usually: Oud en de dagen zat 2 3 'Old and tired of life' Het moede hoofd neerleggen 2 3 'laying down the weary head' - to die, after a life of much worry

De pijp aan Maarten geven 2 ['give] Hand the pipe to Maarten' - to pass away, die

Twee vliegen in één klap 2 3 '[two flies in one slam] - to kill two birds with one stone'
I guess the English expression is disappearing because we now frown on killing birds, but flies are still a nuisance.

Ze zijn aan het goede adres 2 ['They are at the right address'] - They came to the right place

Bij nader inzien ['Upon closer inspection'] - usually: 'after some reflection, having given it some thought ...'

Dan houdt alles op 2 ['Then everything ends'] - 'It's no use continuing after that' - often said in reaction to a trivial remark, but with a mock sense of 'that changes everything'

De vlucht naar voren 2 ['escaping forward'] - a government in trouble embarking on a risky but popular military adventure, like the Argentine Junta's attempt to occupy the Falkland Islands in the 1980s, or the capture of Western New Guinea by Indonesia in the 1960s. John le Carré, talking about the similar German expression  'Der Flucht nach Vorn' says there is no English equivalent.

Iets over het hoofd zien 2 3 4 'to overlook something, fail to notice something'

Je kunt door de bomen 't bos niet zien 2 3 ['Because of the trees you can't see the forest'] - 'You can't see the forest for the trees' - overattention to details makes you lose sight of the big picture

Er klopt iets niet 2 'There's something wrong, it doesn't add up, there is an inconsistency'

Wij hebben 't nakijken 2 3 [All we had was looking at it disappearing] - we are the losers

Sla je slag 2 3 4 Seize the opportunity, grab your chance Ergens een slaatje uit slaan 2 3 Taking advantage of an opportunity, making good use of something Je voordeel doen met 2 3 Doing something advantageous, seize an opportunity to your advantage Grijp je kans! 2 3 Grab your chance, make use of the opportunity ‑>>

Ik zet er een punt achter 2 3 4 ['I'm putting a period (dot) behind it'] - I'm putting a stop to it, ending my involvement in it Punt uit! 2 3 Period! (Finished! - End of discussion)

(Het) stuk 2 3 is 'piece' but  'stuk' 2 3 can also mean 'broken, defective'
't Kan niet meer stuk 3 4 [It cannot be broken anymore]
- We've had so much fun already that it's a great day, whatever happens next
- it's going so well, we're having so much success that setbacks won't matter

Advice, Counsel, Recommendations, Commands

Schiet op! 2 'hurry up!'
- usually schieten 2 >> means 'to shoot' - like, a gun.

't Zekere voor 't onzekere nemen 2 3 '[to take the certain before the uncertain] - to stay on the safe side' - not taking risks

Voor alle zekerheid 2 to be on the safe side - taking extra precautions

Alle beetjes helpen '[All little bits help] - Every little bit helps'

Laat de boel de boel 'Leave things as they are' - stop worrying, take a break

Baat het niet, dan schaadt het niet 2 'If there is no benefit, there will no damage either'
I used to think this was a bit silly, for there are many harmful things around - but maybe it encourages experimentation with harmless medication or remedies

Dat kan geen kwaad 2 3 ['That's not going to do damage'] - 'It's something that can be tried without risk, worth a try'

Voetjes van de vloer! ['(Little) Feet off the floor'] - "Get dancing!"

Hou je hoofd erbij! 2 3 4 ['keep your head at it'] - 'stay on top of it, stay focused on the job in hand, don't get distracted'

Hou je gedeisd 'don't make a fuss, lay low, don't draw attention to yourself'  (from Portuguese deixar)

Geen woorden maar daden! 2 ['No words but deeds'] - We want action(s), not words

Met twee woorden spreken! 2 ['Use two words when you speak'] - telling children to speak politely, adding 'thank you' and 'please'

De kinderen achter het behang plakken 'glueing the children behind the wallpaper' - many an exasperated parent's secret wish

De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond 2 [The dawn hour has gold in its mouth] - The early bird gets the worm

Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel? 2 ['If you don't do it now, when are you?'] - If not now, when?

Van uitstel komt afstel 2 3 'Postponement leads to cancellation'

Bezint eer ge begint 2 3 'Consider, think before you [start] act'

Haastige spoed is zelden goed slow '["Hasty speed, speedy haste ..."] - Hurry is rarely useful' Haast U als U de tijd heeft, dan heeft U de tijd als U haast heeft slow slow2 'Hurry when you have time, then you'll have time when you're in a hurry'

Wie zonder zonden is, werpe de eerste steen 'Let him or her who is without sin throw the first stone'
Jesus addressing the people who want to stone an adulterous woman - John 8:7 ('werpe'  is an old-fashioned imperative)

Na regen komt zonneschijn 2 3 4 [After rain the sun will come out] - Bad things don't last

Achter de wolken schijnt de zon 2 ['Behind the clouds, the sun is shining'] - 'Look further, wait awhile and you'll see things aren't all bad'

Niet bij de pakken neerzitten 2 ['Don't sit down with your burdens'] - Keep going, don't let misfortune get you down
Stoett says it's from the Bible, a packed donkey that lies down can't get up again.

Vraag niet waarom "Ask not why," - 'Do not ask why' Waarom? Daarom. 'Why? Because.' Waarom zijn de bananen krom? 'Why are bananas [crooked] not straight?' - rhetorical question, often said when there is no answer to another 'why?'

Wee je gebeente! 2 ['woe to your bones' (I'll break them all)] a warning, not really a threat Dan ben je nog niet jarig! 2 3 'It won't be (feel) like your birthday ...' - a warning, not really a threat - Birthday Dan moet je vroeger opstaan 2 3 'Then you'll have to get up earlier' - i.e. for that you'll have to be more alert and more active

Hou je gemak! 2 3 [Remain at ease] - Don't get excited, 'keep your shirt on'

't Is halen en brengen 2 3 [It's getting and bringing, collecting and delivering] - It keeps getting better but then getting worse again, on and off - a situation alternates between improving and deteriorating - said of weather and sickness You can also say, with a similar meaning:
't Gaat op en af 2 3 4 It's going up and down, getting better, then getting worse again Literally, in a physical sense, 'Up and down' is: 
Op en neer 2 3
opkomst en neergang 2 [coming up and going down] rise and fall

Actions

De bakens verzetten 2 '[moving the beacons] - setting a new course' - figuratively: change to a new policy Het roer omgooien ['turning around the rudder'] - drastically changing course 't Over een andere boeg gooien 2 3 4 5 6 7 [to (throw) turn over to another bow = change your tack] - turning your ship in another direction, changing course - usually figuratively: a new course of action, adopting a new policy, changing the subject of a conversation

Water naar de zee dragen 2 ['Carrying water to the sea'] - 'Carrying coal to Newcastle' - engaging in a pointless act

Iemand een poets bakken 2 'to play a trick, a practical joke on someone'

Geen sjoege geven 2 'giving no reaction, showing no emotion' (from Yiddish ‑>>)

Stennis maken 2 'to cause a commotion, get rowdy, raise a stink' (from Yiddish ‑>>)

't Kaf van 't koren scheiden ['Separating the chaff from the wheat'] - Separating the useful from the useless, the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats

Praten over koetjes en kalfjes 2 ['Talking about (little) cows and calves, irrelevant things'] - To chat, make smalltalk

Pappen en nathouden 2 3 ['Apply paste and keep wet'] - applying and maintaining a wound dressing
- keep going in adverse circumstances, persevering in a less than ideal situation - but not looking for a radical solution

Een frisse neus halen '(going outside) to get [a fresh nose] some fresh air' also:  uitwaaien 2 3 4 going outdoors for a walk to get some fresh air (and clear the mind)

Ik ga even een blokje om 2 'I'll go for a short walk [around the block]'
even 2 'for a moment'

met man en macht [with man and power] - with all possible means, a great effort

met vereende krachten 2 ['with united [powers] forces'] - working together, a cooperative effort

Alle gekheid op een stokje 2 (['All the silliness on a stick'] - 'joking aside,' now let's stop the joking and get down to business.

Er zit niks anders op 2 3 There is just one thing to be done, there is nothing else that can be done, there is no other way

Marco's Choice

Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens 2 3 4 5 ['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home'] - 'Home sweet home'

Ik ben een beetje een huismus 2 ['I have something of a house sparrow'] - 'I don't get out much'
(de) huismus 2 "house sparrow"

De macht der gewoonte 2 3 ['the power of habit'] - it's hard to break a routine
der is an old-fashioned form of 'van de' (of the)
(de) gewoontemens 2 3 'creature of habit' De Macht van Het Kleine 2 ['The Power of The Little Thing'] - a charity that collects small donations, something like The March of Dimes

Tegen beter weten in 2 3 'Against my (or her or his) better judgement'

Teveel gedoe 'too much hassle' Dat is teveel gedoe 2 'that's too much hassle' Wat een gedoe! 2 'Such a hassle!' Veel gedoe om niks 'much ado about nothing'

Wat een onzin! 2 'Such nonsense!' Allemaal onzin! 2 3 All of that is nonsense!

't Is niet leuk meer 2 'It's not enjoyable anymore, the fun is gone'

Ben je helemaal geschuffeld? 2 'Are you crazy, are you out of your mind?'

See and hear also Dutch Fun Phrases - Talking about The Weather - Food and Drink - Sleep - Speaking Dutch, Speaking about Dutch
Conversations Template - Alliterations

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Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2