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Dutch Sayings and Standard Phrases(Het) spreekwoord![]() ![]() ![]() - 'gezegde' may also mean 'the predicate,' what is said in a sentence about the subject - hear Dutch grammar terms standaarduitdrukkingen ![]() 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. 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)
More Phrases:
Basic -
Older Versions:
1 -
2
(no complete overlap) -
Speaking Dutch,
Speaking about Dutch
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. |
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
Ware Jacob
Jarige Job
Smeerkees
Ongelovige Thomas
Vrolijke Frans
Razende Roeltje
Magere Hein
Klaas Vaak
nieuwsgierig Aagje
(de) lastpost
(het) lachebekje
Ze is niet op haar mondje gevallen
Praten als Brugman
Hij zit te zwammen
Hij is van slag
Hij bakt ze bruin
Hij neemt geen blad voor de mond
Hij heeft vaker met dat bijltje gehakt
Hij is van alle markten thuis
Hij is 't zonnetje in huis
Hij kent z'n Pappenheimers
Hij was des duivels
Hij laat er geen gras over groeien
Hij is lang van stof
Hij weet waar Abraham de mosterd haalt
Te dom om voor de duivel te dansen
Een aardje naar z'n vaartje
Baas boven baas
Heer en meester
Buiten z'n boekje
Anderhalve man en een paardenkop
Recht door zee
Een roepende in de woestijn
Als de dagen lengen, gaan de nachten strengen
Vreemdeling, vertel de Spartanen ...
Wat doe je, als je dingen ziet die niemand ooit heeft gezien?
Al wat groeit en bloeit en ons telkens weer boeit
Beter langharig dan kortzichtig!
Dit is gekkenwerk!
Alles sal reg kom
De kost gaat voor de baat uit
't Mag geen geld kosten
Daar kun je je geen buil aan vallen
Zonde van 't geld
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.
2
'True, real Jacob' - 'Mr. Right'
the birthday boy
Jarige Jet
the birthday girl -
Dutch Birthday
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
a disbelieving Thomas, a person of small faith (from John 20:28)
'Jolly Francis' - a cheerful person
'Roaring Roland' - a very energetic, quick person
'Skinny Henry' - the Grim Reaper
2
The Sandman
Houten Klaas
'Wooden Charles' - an awkward person
Jan Klaassen en Katrijn
'Punch and Judy'
(de) poppenkast
'a Punch and Judy show'
A curious, inquisitive young girl
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) 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
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
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)
2
3
['to speak like Brugman'] - speaking in very convincing way
Brugman
2
was an early 16th Century catholic monk and preacher
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
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
['He's baking them brown']
- He's going to extremes, he's behaving badly
2
3
['He doesn't put a leaf in front of his mouth']
He speaks his mind freely, doesn't mince his words
2
3
['he has wielded that (little) axe before']
- 'He has done that
before, he has the experience' (usually in a somewhat unpleasant task)
2
['He's at home in all markets']
- said of a versatile, practical person
2
3
4
He is the cheerful one in the house, trying to
brighten everyone's life
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
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
2
3
['He doesn't let (allow) grass grow over it']
- he's taking action immediately
2
[~'He talks at great length']
- 'His talking drags on and on'
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
slow
['too stupid to dance for the devil']
- said of a not very bright person
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
2
['boss over boss']
- 'There's always someone who can do it better'
- said of someone who thinks too much of himself
'Lord and master'
- the ultimate authority, the person in power
2
['outside his little book']
- said of a person overstepping his authority
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.
2
3
[Straight through the sea]
- said of a person who's honest and frank, a straight talker
who doesn't sweet-talk
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
Ik val aan - volg mij
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
'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
'Stranger, tell the Spartans ...'
(Thermopylae monument inscription)
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
‑>>
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'
2
'Better long-haired than short-sighted'
Sixties slogan protesting school principals ordering
long-haired boys to get a haircut
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
(South African) 'Everything will
[turn out to be] be OK'
Ascribed to South-African General De Wet
(Generaal De Wet
2)
Money
Een appeltje voor de dorst
2
['a small apple for the thirst']
- a nest egg, money put away for bad times
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
['It can't cost any money']
- It cannot have a significant
cost, we don't want to pay serious money for it.
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
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
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
Op een laag pitje
Al doende leert men
De wind in de zeilen hebben
Ik werk me te pletter
Een handje helpen
Laat je handjes maar een wapperen
In de benen!
Liever lui dan moe
We zullen dat varkentje wel even wassen
Hout sprokkelen
Er zit de klad in
't Is voor de bakker
Onder ons gezegd en gezwegen ...
... wat ik je brom
Daar kun je donder op zeggen!
't Is niet waar!
Maar niet heus!
Ik heb het met eigen ogen gezien
"Rij jij of rij ik?"
De bliksem is zeker ingeslagen
Ga toch fietsen!
Ben je gek geworden?
Ben je gek!
Ik word er gek van
't Gaat je
niet in de kouwe (koude) kleren zitten
't Gaat me boven de pet
Breek me de bek niet open
Ik weet er alles van
Beter laat dan nooit
Langzaam maar zeker
Je wordt geflest waar je bij staat
't Is geen zuivere koffie
In een kwade reuk staan
Ik sta nergens meer van te kijken
Ik kon m'n oren niet geloven
Hij keek z'n ogen uit
Hij had er wel oren naar
Laat me niet lachen
Er is niks aan te doen
Ik kan niet heksen
Daar was ik al bang voor
Ik ben het beu
Ik baal als een stier
Ik verveel me te pletter
Ik lap 't aan m'n laars
Ik werd er helemaal naar van
Ik word geleefd
Ik ben helemaal gaar
Om 't af te leren
Door schade en schande wijs geworden
Het leed is geleden
Dat is verleden tijd
Oud nieuws
Geen centje pijn
Als morgen
de hemel valt hebben we allemaal een blauwe muts
Dan is 't voorbij met de pret
't Komt niet zo nauw
Opgeruimd staat netjes
Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet
Het oog is groter dan de maag
Hij lust er wel pap van
Te veel van 't goede
Hoe groter geest, hoe groter beest
Waarin een klein land groot kan zijn
Holland op z'n smalst
Verstand op nul
Niet voor herhaling vatbaar
Al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel
De zoete inval
't Zal me worst wezen
Hij timmert aardig aan de weg
Samen uit, samen thuis
Je moet de sokken d'rin zetten
Je hebt 't rijk alleen
Hij heeft de smaak te pakken
Ik zag 't niet meer zitten
Een huishouden van Jan Steen
Je hebt er een handje van ...
Dat zou zuur zijn
Niks mis mee
Stank voor dank
(de) kwaaie pier
Voor spek en bonen
Drie maal is scheepsrecht
Bitter in de mond maakt het hart gezond
Wat je ver haalt is lekker
Doe maar normaal,
dan doe je al gek genoeg
De beste stuurlui staan aan wal
Elk vogeltje zingt zoals 't gebekt is
Over smaak valt niet te twisten
't Is niet alles goud wat er blinkt
Hoge bomen vangen veel wind
Geduld is een schone zaak
Beter een goede buur dan een verre vriend
Velen worden geroepen, maar weinigen worden
uitgekozen
Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet
Uit het oog, uit het hart
Alles grijpt in elkaar
Geen rozen zonder doornen
Onkruid vergaat niet
Wie schrijft, die blijft
't IJzer smeden als 't heet is
Beidt Uw tijd
Wie niet waagt, die niet wint
Wie niet sterk is moet slim zijn
Alles met mate
Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald
Gedane zaken nemen geen keer
Spreken is zilver, zwijgen is goud
Lachen is gezond
Als de vos de passie preekt ...
Het bezit van de zaak is het eind van het
vermaak
Gedeelde smart is halve smart
Vis moet zwemmen
Verandering van spijs doet eten
Wie met pek omgaat wordt ermee besmet
De aanhouder wint
Waar een wil is, is een weg
Wie dan leeft, wie dan zorgt
Geen rook zonder vuur
Een woordenboek is een leugenboek
Goed voorbeeld doet volgen
Meten is weten
Hij sliep als een os
Zo dood als een pier
Zo fris als een hoentje
Als er één schaap over de dam is ...
op 't nippertje
Uit de losse pols
Zonder blikken of blozen
't Is zwaar te verteren
Daar is de Engelse schroevendraaier gebruikt
Als mosterd na de maaltijd
De hond in de pot vinden
Roet in 't eten gooien
In geuren en kleuren
Dat is een ander verhaal
De kat op het spek binden
De kat uit de boom kijken
Ouwe koeien uit de sloot halen
Tussen de wal en 't schip
met man en muis
Achter 't net vissen
Niet over één nacht ijs gaan
Een advies in de wind slaan
Kapers op de kust
Bij gebrek aan beter
Met alle mogelijke middelen
Vechten tegen de Bierkaai
In de aap gelogeerd
Ik lachte me een kriek
Een veer laten
Water bij de wijn doen
Hij houdt z'n poot stijf
't Ligt voor de hand
Als een mes door de boter
Met de deur in huis vallen
Een heet hangijzer
de hele santekraam
bepakt en bezakt
Van de hak op de tak springen
Dag in, dag uit
Een dag als alle andere
Op een blauwe maandag
Met het oog op morgen
Oog om oog, tand om tand
De tijd vliegt
Gebed zonder end
Vroeger was alles beter
Uit de oude doos
Zo oud als de weg naar Kralingen
Je kunt er geen touw aan vastknopen
De knoop doorhakken
Je kunt wel zien uit welke hoek de wind waait
Een oogje in het zeil houden
(het) gat
En dan komt de aap uit de mouw
Raar maar waar
'Zeer'
Tegen heug en meug
Een bittere pil
(Het is
Boter op z'n hoofd
Een koekje van eigen deeg
Een sigaar uit eigen doos
Je moet een gegeven paard niet in de bek kijken
't Is een aflopende zaak
Onder vier ogen
Gevoel van eigenwaarde
De dorst naar kennis
De klant is koning
't Zit als gegoten
In modern Dutch,
stout
Een ongeluk zit in een klein hoekje
't Verdwijnt als sneeuw voor de zon
't Regent pijpenstelen
Van 't kastje naar de muur
Ik zuig 't niet uit m'n duim
Kind aan huis
Een kind kan de was doen
Je hebt geen kind aan hem
't Is allemaal één pot nat
Dweilen met de kraan open
Een gevoelige snaar raken
Elkaar voor rotte vis uitmaken
Als klap op de vuurpijl
Iemand een hart onder de riem steken
't Heeft veel voeten in aarde
Hij zag de bui al hangen
't Zal wel niet zo'n vaart lopen
Uit 't diepst van m'n hart
Ik wil hem niet voor de voeten lopen
Knollen voor citroenen verkopen
Ze kijken op ons neer
Met een schone lei beginnen
(lopende band
Als een kip zonder kop
Ze keek alsof ze 't in Keulen hoorde donderen
We zijn niet van suikergoed
Je hebt 't zelf in de hand
De vuile was buiten hangen
iemand naar de mond praten
Een vreemde eend in de bijt
een kunst en een kunde
Een dubbeltje op z'n kant
Met de Noorderzon vertrokken
Hij is in z'n element
Door de zure appel heen bijten
Iets door de vingers zien
Tussen de regels door lezen
Ik voel nattigheid
Ik heb er een zwaar hoofd in
Vel over been
Ik hang 't niet aan de grote klok
't Is koren op je molen
Neem niet teveel hooi op je vork
Wachten tot je een ons weegt
Een kinderhand is gauw gevuld
Ze weten niet van ophouden
Hij sprong een gat in de lucht
Neem 't ter harte
(de) knauw
Iemand iets door de neus boren
Doen alsof je neus bloedt
We kunnen 't missen als kiespijn
in de kiem smoren
Ik hou m'n hart vast
't Is een wassen neus
op eigen benen staan
met twee maten meten
Van dik hout zaagt men planken
een dikke huid hebben
Misschien komt 't wel weer boven water
buiten westen
't Loopt uit de hand
De teerling is geworpen
De bom is gebarsten
Alle hens aan dek!
Er zit geen schot in
Je kunt er niet omheen
Het gaat de mist in
't Is een uitdaging
In de piepzak zitten
Met de handen in het haar
De stilte voor de storm
Geen wolkje aan de lucht
Een geluk bij een ongeluk
't Kan vriezen en 't kan dooien
't Is hollen of stilstaan
Als puntje bij paaltje komt
Dan zijn we nog verder van huis
Van de regen in de drup
Maar wij zitten met de gebakken peren
De druppel die de emmer deed overlopen
Laten we niet te hard van stapel lopen
Dan heb je de poppen aan het dansen
Door de rooie gaan
Over de schreef gaan
Met de ouderdom komen de gebreken
De pijp aan Maarten geven
Twee vliegen in één klap
Ze zijn aan het goede adres
Bij nader inzien
Dan houdt alles op
De vlucht naar voren
Iets over het hoofd zien
Je kunt door de bomen 't bos niet zien
Er klopt iets niet
Wij hebben 't nakijken
Sla je slag
Ik zet er een punt achter
(Het) stuk
Schiet op!
't Zekere voor 't onzekere nemen
Voor alle zekerheid
Alle beetjes helpen
Laat de boel de boel
Baat het niet, dan schaadt het niet
Dat kan geen kwaad
Voetjes van de vloer!
Hou je hoofd erbij!
Hou je gedeisd
Geen woorden maar daden!
Met twee woorden spreken!
De kinderen achter het behang plakken
De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond
Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel?
Van uitstel komt afstel
Bezint eer ge begint
Haastige spoed is zelden goed
Wie zonder zonden is, werpe de eerste steen
Na regen komt zonneschijn
Achter de wolken schijnt de zon
Niet bij de pakken neerzitten
Vraag niet waarom
Wee je gebeente!
Hou je gemak!
't Is halen en brengen
De bakens verzetten
Water naar de zee dragen
Iemand een poets bakken
Geen sjoege geven
Stennis maken
't Kaf van 't koren scheiden
Praten over koetjes en kalfjes
Pappen en nathouden
Een frisse neus halen
Ik ga even een blokje om
met man en macht
met vereende krachten
Alle gekheid op een stokje
Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens
Ik ben een beetje een huismus
De macht der gewoonte
Tegen beter weten in
Teveel gedoe
Wat een onzin!
't Is niet leuk meer
Ben je helemaal geschuffeld?
See and hear also Dutch Fun Phrases -
Talking about The Weather
- Food and Drink
- Sleep
- Speaking Dutch, Speaking about Dutch
email -
Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2012.
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed,
or hotlinked to.
2
3
['He's throwing his cap at it']
- 'He's not making a serious effort'
['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner'
- something given low priority, not pursued vigorously
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
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)
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
'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'
2
['Make your (little) hands wave frantically,
snap'] - Get active! Get cracking!
2
['on your legs'] - Get on your feet and move,
get active!
2
[Rather lazy than tired]
- preferring not making an effort
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'
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
2
3
A problem has come up and the process is no
longer advancing well
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
Bij wijze van spreken
2
3
['in a manner of speaking'] - "to use a figure of speech"
2
['Spoken and silent between us']
'Just between you and me ...'
2
said after making a somewhat controversial statement,
meaning 'it will turn out I was right about this'
2
3
It will be like that, Absolutely!
(That statement is absolutely correct)
['It's not true!']
- ironic use, like 'You don't say!'
['But not really'] 'NOT!'
2
3
['I've seen it with my own eyes']
- I witnessed it myself, personally
2
3
['Are you driving or am I driving?']
- what an exasperated driver can say to passengers who criticize
his or her driving.
2
3
'Lightning must have struck' - said when a traffic
light takes long to change
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)
'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?'
2
3
4
'You must be kidding'
- said to someone who gives a wrong
(usually complicated) explanation of your actions or motivation
'It's driving me crazy'
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
2
'It's over my [cap] head'
- I don't understand it, it's too difficult for me
'[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.
2
'I know all about it'
- not boasting about academic knowledge but
stating familiarity with misfortune and adversity.
'Better late than never'
2
3
'Slowly but steadily, slow but sure'
['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.
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'
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)
2
'Nothing surprises me anymore'
- Thank you, Johan!
't Verbaast me niks
2
'I'm not surprised at all'
2
3
['I couldn't believe my ears']
- Hearing something incredible or
something you had not thought possible
2
3
He really enjoyed seeing it
(something unexpected)
2
3
['he had ears for it']
- he'd like to join in (an activity)
2
['Don't (let) make me laugh']
- 'That's ridiculous'
Niks aan te doen!
2
3
['Nothing can be done about it']
- 'It can't be helped'
2
3
[I cannot 'witch' - I don't have supernatural powers]
'I'm doing it as fast as I can'
2
'I was already afraid of that'
'I'm sick of it, I can't stand it anymore'
Wat sneu
2
'What a pity, I'm sorry it ended
that way'
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
2
3
[literally, something like 'I'm crushed by boredom']
- 'I am bored stiff'
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
['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'
['I am being lived']
- 'I have no life of my own' - duties,
demands and obligations leave very little time for myself
['I'm fully cooked'] - I've had it, I'm done for
- I've worked on this, lived with this for too long
2
3
'to unlearn it,' 'to break the habit'
- said when you take one too many drinks or snacks
2
3
Door schade en schande
'(educated) by damage and shame'
- the school of hard knocks
2
'The suffering is over'
2
3
'That is past, that is over'
- "That's history"
2
'old news'
Dat is oud nieuws
2
'That's old news'
['Not a penny of pain/trouble']
- 'No sweat, it doesn't (or didn't) take any effort'
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 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'
2
'There is no need for much precision or strictness,
there is a lot of leeway, a wide margin'
['Cleared up, stored away looks neat']
'Things out of the way looks good'
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
2
['the eye is bigger than the stomach']
- said when you can't
finish the food you put on your plate
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
2
'Too much of a good thing' (say, cherry juice)
2
3
4
'The greater the mind, the more like a beast'
- great intellects often behave badly
'Big things a small country can do,
A small country can do big things'
Said when Holland is setting an example
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'
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.
2
3
[After a disappointment: 'not to be repeated']
- 'Let's not do (or have) that again'
2
3
4
['However quick a lie may be,
the truth will overtake it']
- Lies won't last, truth will come out eventually
2
['the sweet invasion']
- said when a large number of people unexpectedly
gather at your house (also a name for cafés, restaurants)
2
['It will be sausage to me']
- 'I don't care at all'
2
3
He is well-known for his activities,
his activities have made him rather well-known
['Leaving together, going home together']
'We're in this together'
2
3
["You have to put the socks in it"]
Zet de sokken erin!
2
["Put the socks in it!"]
- 'run faster,' 'speed up'
2
['You have the realm to yourself']
- said when you leave one
person by themselves in a house or an office
2
[~He was captured by the taste]
- he really likes it (a new activity)
['I didn't see it sit anymore,'
I didn't see things in place anymore] - I was depressed
2
3
4
A messy household
- like in some Jan Steen paintings
Jan Steen
2
3
(1626-1679)
2
3
4
'You tend to ...,
it's a habit of yours to ...'
2
That would be sad, a disappointment
2
There's nothing wrong with that
2
3
[Stink as gratitude] - no gratitude,
no appreciation, or even a hostile reaction to kindness
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
2
3
4
5
[for bacon and beans] - not being a full
participant, joining as a non-competing participant
Nonsense Statements
De uitzondering die de regel bevestigt
2
'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.'
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
2
'bitter in the mouth makes the heart healthy'
nonsense remark about the supposed health benefits of bitter-tasting
medicine or food
2
['What you get from far away tastes good']
'Exotic food is always good'
Words of Wisdom
De mens lijdt het meest van het lijden dat-ie vreest
'Man suffers most from the suffering he fears' -
a sentiment somewhat similar to President Roosevelt's 'The only
thing we have to fear is fear itself' - FDR
Angst en vrees
'fear and dread'
(de) vrees
is when you know what you're afraid of,
(de) angst
is an undefined fear
2
'Just do like you always do,
that's enough craziness already'
'The best ship officers are on the shore'
It's easy to criticize from a distance, when you're not involved
['Each bird sings as its beak is']
- 'You can't change a nature' - 'A leopard can't change its spots.'
2
'[You can't argue about taste]
- There's no accounting for
taste' De gustibus non disputandum
2
'It's not all gold that glitters / Not all
shiny things are golden' - 'All that glitters is not gold.'
['Tall trees catch much wind']
- The high, mighty and famous catch
much flak, get a lot of criticism
'Patience is good (but difficult)'
- 'Patience is a virtue'
2
'a good neighbor is more useful '
than a faraway friend'
Many are called, but few are chosen
2
['hunger makes raw beans sweet']
- Want changes your perception
2
3
4
['out of eye, out of heart']
- 'out of sight, out of mind'
2
'everything is connected,
all things hang together'
['No roses without thorns']
- 'Nice things always come with problematic attachments'
- 'there is no rainbow without rain'
'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.
['he who writes, stays (in the game)']
- the player who records
the scores will not let himself be eliminated
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
2
3
'Bide your time'
- be patient, wait for the right moment
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
['Those who are not strong (powerful) ...']
- 'If you're not strong you have to be clever'
'Be moderate in everything'
2
'It's better to [turn] change direction halfway
than to be wrong all the way'
2
3
'What's done is done' (You can't turn around
what's done in the past)
2
['speaking is silver,
keeping silent is gold'] - speaking is good,
but keeping silent is better
'Speech may be silver, but silence is golden'
2
'to laugh is good for your health'
2
'When the fox preaches about Christ's suffering ...'
(watch out for hypocrites)
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
'Shared grief is halved grief'
2
3
4
'Fish has to swim, fish gotta swim'
- drink well when you're eating fish
2
[Change of food makes people eat] - Food
variety helps the appetite
(de) spijs
is an old-fashioned word for 'food'
‑>>
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
He/she who perseveres will win, succeed
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'
2
3
He/She who then lives,
can then deal with the problems - don't
worry too much about the future
[No smoke without (a) fire]
- where there's smoke, there's fire
A dictionary is [a book] full of
lies
2
3
Good example will be followed
2
3
['to measure is to know'] - measurements
create, build knowledge - thank you, Gabriel
Descriptive
Ons koude kikkerland
2
3
'Our chilly frogs' country' - Holland:
it's a wretched place but it's home
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')
dead like a [rainworm] doornail,
dead like disco
['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
2
3
['If one sheep has [crossed the dam] entered
the meadow ... (more will follow)'] - an example will be followed
'in the nick of time, at the last moment,
just in time'
op de valreep
'at the last possible moment //
while saying goodbye'
['from the loose wrist'] - off the cuff, improvising,
like for instance giving a very rough estimate
2
['without batting an eye or blushing']
- shamelessly doing something questionable
2
3
It's [heavy] 'hard to digest'
- usually said of unpleasant knowledge or things you just have
to accept
'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
2
'Like mustard after the meal'
- something that comes in too late and is now useless
['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
'throwing soot in the food' - ruining plans
Je moet geen roet in 't eten gooien
'Don't ruin the plans'
2
(3)
[in smells and colors] in full detail,
an elaborate, lively description
2
'That's another story'
't Is maar een verhaaltje
'It's only a story'
2
['tying the cat to the bacon'] -
(to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'
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'
2
[dredging up old cows from the ditch]
pointless talk about foregone matters, flogging a dead horse
2
['(falling) between the quay and the ship']
- 'to fall between two stools'
vergaan
[to perish with man and mouse]
- said of ships being lost
completely, no survivors, nothing recovered
2
['fishing behind the net']
- not catching anything, not getting what you want
2
3
['Not walking on ice of one night']
- 'to be careful, to proceed with much caution, not do risky things'
2
slow
['Throw an advice to the wind'] -
ignoring sensible counsel
['pirates on the coast']
- There are competitors about
'Lacking a better alternative'
2
'With all possible means'
'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
['lodging at the Monkey's?']
- in trouble, not in a good place
'I laughed a lot' [so much that it hurt]
['dropping a feather']
- accept a loss, make a concession
2
3
'Mixing water into the wine'
- going for a compromise
Water bij de wijn
2
['he's keeping his paw stiff']
- 'he's not giving in'
literally: 'it's close at hand,'
but it usually means 'it's obvious'
'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
['storming into the house, flattening the door']
- to come straight to the point, without delay or hesitation
2
A problem that's hard to handle and
not going away
'the whole shebang, kit and kaboodle'
['packed and bagged,
with packs and bags ready'] - ready for travel
2
3
'in conversation, frequently and (apparenty)
at random changing the subject'
2
['Day in, day out'] - Every day
2
3
['a day like all others']
- 'Just another day'
['On a blue monday'] For a short,
insignificant time in the past
2
'With an eye on tomorrow'
- taking the future into? consideration
'An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth'
- 'tit for tat' - archaic justice
'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'
['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?
['In the past everything was better']
'Everything was better in the past'
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!'
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)
2
['you can't tie a rope to it']
- 'it's incomprehensible'
2
'cutting (through) the knot'
- taking a decision after long deliberations
2
['You can see from which corner the wind is blowing']
- 'You can see where that's coming from, what's behind it'
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
'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
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
Strange (weird) but true
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?
'Doing something under strong protest,
like having to eat something you really don't like'
2
'a bitter pill' - Something unpleasant
you have to get through or live with
)
boter aan de galg
['It's butter on the gallows'] -
something valuable wasted, a useless effort
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
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
2
3
['A cigar from your own box']
- Something is presented as a gift, but it turns out you have to
pay for it
2
3
'You shouldn't look into the mouth of a gift horse'
- don't criticize a present
2
'it's going downhill, it's on its last legs'
2
['Under four eyes'] - 'in private,
one-on-one conversation'
['sense of one's own worth'] - 'self-esteem'
"the thirst for knowledge"
'the customer is king'
- the customer's opinion is the most important (we hope)
['It fits like it was cast']
- said of well-fitting clothes
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'
['an accident is in a small corner']
- accidents can happen in unexpected places (and unexpectedly)
2
'It disappears like snow [before]
in the sun'
[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
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'
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)
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'
2
3
['A child can do the laundry']
- It's a very easy job
2
3
['He won't be like a child (to you)']
- He's very easy, no trouble at all, doesn't need special care
2
3
['It's all one jar of liquid']
- 'It's all the same, All those things are actually identical'
2
3
['Mopping up while the faucet is running']
- doing something but not addressing the cause of the problem
2
3
'touching a sensitive string' ~ touching a raw nerve
- Dutch'(de) snaar'
is a string of a musical instrument
2
3
4
'Calling each other spoiled (rotten) fish'
- mutual insulting, 'calling each other names'
['As a bang to the flare rocket']
- a grand ending
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)
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)
2
3
['He had already seen the
rainshower "hanging"']
- 'He understood trouble was brewing'
2
3
4
['It's not going to pick up speed']
- It won't happen soon (don't worry about it)
2
'From the bottom of my heart'
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)
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)
They look down on us
uit de hoogte
2
3
4
5
[from a height]
- arrogantly, feeling superior
(de) minachting
2
3
contempt
2
Starting with a clean slate (a new beginning
without baggage)
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)
2
3
'Like a chicken without its head'
- acting irrationally
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
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]
2
3
['You have it in your hand yourself']
- It's in your own hands
(you can take a decision, you can take action)
2
3
[hanging the dirty laundry outside]
- 'airing the dirty laundry'
- a public showing of private problems
2
3
['Speaking towards someone's mouth']
- Trying to get into a person's favor by saying
what he wants to hear
[a strange duck in the hole in the ice]
- A stranger among us/you/them
2
'an art and a (learned) skill'
- some things are not just applying science
‑>>
2
[A dime on its edge]
- the outcome is very uncertain
2
[Departed at the North Sun hour]
- 'Secretly disappeared at midnight'
(leaving unfinished business and/or debts behind)
2
3
'He is in his element'
- he's doing something he likes and that he does well
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'
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
2
3
'Reading between the lines'
- to notice not just what's written
but also what's implied and/or left out
2
3
['I feel wetness']
- There's something fishy (to it) - I don't trust it
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
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'
2
['I'm not hanging it on the big bell']
- I'm keeping quiet
about it, ~I'm not shouting it from the rooftops
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'
2
['Don't put too much hay on your (hay)fork']
- Don't take on too heavy a burden, too big a task
2
3
4
['waiting until you weigh 100 grams (~3 ounces)']
- a never-ending wait
2
3
['A child's hand is quickly filled']
- children don't need much to be happy
2
3
4
['They don't know about stopping'] -
They go on an on, they never stop
Hij weet niet van ophouden
2
3
2
3
4
['He jumped a hole in the air']
- he was very happy, ~ he was over
the moon (not necessarily jumping for joy)
2
[Take it to heart] - Take heed! Pay attention
to it, act accordingly
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'
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)
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?
2
3
We really don't need it, we can do without it
like we can do without a toothache
2
3
'to nip in the bud' - stop something in an
early stage
2
3
[I'm holding onto my heart] - I'm worried
about someone doing something that could end badly
2
3
4
5
[It's a wax nose] - It's a meaningless,
inconsequential formality
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'
2
'Using two measuring systems (yardsticks)'
- applying double standards, a biased approach
2
3
(saying)
Boards are sawn from big, fat wood - said of a task perfromed
very well and also royally, generously amply, with extras
2
3
(saying)
[having a thick skin, being thick-skinned] - not very sensitive to
criticism and insults
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
['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
Situations
aan de hand
2
~going on
Er is wat aan de hand
2
'There is something going on'
Wat is er aan de hand?
'What's going on? What's happening?'
Wat is hier aan de hand?
2
3
4
5
What's going on here?
Wat is er hier aan de hand?
2
What's going on here?
Er is niks aan de hand
2
'There's nothing (unusual) going on'
Er is iets anders aan de hand
2
3
There's something else going on
Wat is er eigenlijk aan de hand?
2
3
(So) what is really going on?
Wat is er toch aan de hand?
2
3
What's going on? What is it? (Not getting
answers, not understanding what's going on)
Wat zou er aan de hand zijn?
2
3
What could be happening? (wondering about a
distant sound or mystery)
2
3
'It's getting out of hand, escalating,
control is lost'
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.
2
['the bomb has burst, exploded']
'The dreaded event has come to pass, things have escalated, come
to a head'
2
3
'All hands on deck'
Dutchified English phrase,
'All crew to stations'
2
3
4
5
'There is very little progress, things got stuck'
2
3
['you can't pass around it']
'You can't ignore it, you'll have to deal with it
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
2
3
'It's a challenge'
'to be afraid'
2
['With the hands in the hair'] -
despairing, not knowing what to do
The quiet before the storm, or figuratively:
before a major event
2
[Not a cloud in the sky]
- No problems are expected
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
[It may freeze or it may thaw]
- Things can go either way
2
3
4
['It's either running or staying put']
- 'When it rains, it pours'
'When push comes to shove,
at the moment of truth'
2
3
['Then we'll be even farther from home'] -
Making an already bad situation worse
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
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
2
3
'[The drop that caused the bucket to spill over]
- The straw that broke the camel's back'
[Let's not launch too quickly]
- Let's not go ahead too fast
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'
['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
2
['overstepping the "scratch mark,"
go beyond the pale']
- going too far, into indecent, unacceptable behavior
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
2
['give] Hand the pipe to Maarten'
- to pass away, die
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.
2
['They are at the right address']
- They came to the right place
['Upon closer inspection']
- usually: 'after some reflection,
having given it some thought ...'
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'
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.
2
3
4
'to overlook something,
fail to notice something'
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
2
'There's something wrong, it doesn't add up,
there is an inconsistency'
2
3
[All we had was looking at it disappearing]
- we are the losers
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 ‑>>
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)
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
Doe niet zo raar!
2
Don't be weird, get a grip on yourself,
behave normally
Doe niet zo stoer!
['Do not pretend to be that brave'] - behave normally,
be modest
2
'hurry up!'
- usually schieten
2
>>
means 'to shoot' - like, a gun.
2
3
'[to take the certain before the uncertain]
- to stay on the safe side' - not taking risks
2
to be on the safe side - taking extra precautions
'[All little bits help]
- Every little bit helps'
'Leave things as they are'
- stop worrying, take a break
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
2
3
['That's not going to do damage']
- 'It's something that can be
tried without risk, worth a try'
['(Little) Feet off the floor']
- "Get dancing!"
2
3
4
['keep your head at it']
- 'stay on top of it, stay focused on the
job in hand, don't get distracted'
'don't make a fuss, lay low,
don't draw attention to yourself'
(from Portuguese deixar)
2
['No words but deeds']
- We want action(s), not words
2
['Use two words when you speak']
- telling children to speak politely, adding 'thank you' and 'please'
'glueing the children behind the wallpaper'
- many an exasperated parent's secret wish
2
[The dawn hour has gold in its mouth]
- The early bird gets the worm
2
['If you don't do it now, when are you?']
- If not now, when?
2
3
'Postponement leads to cancellation'
2
3
'Consider, think before you [start] act'
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'
'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)
2
3
4
[After rain the sun will come out]
- Bad things don't last
2
['Behind the clouds, the sun is shining']
- 'Look further, wait awhile and
you'll see things aren't all bad'
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.
"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?'
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
2
3
[Remain at ease] - Don't get excited, 'keep your
shirt on'
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
Schoon schip maken
['clean the ship']
- Removing old problems for a fresh start
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
2
['Carrying water to the sea']
- 'Carrying coal to Newcastle' - engaging in a pointless act
2
'to play a trick, a practical joke
on someone'
2
'giving no reaction, showing no emotion'
(from Yiddish ‑>>)
2
'to cause a commotion, get rowdy,
raise a stink' (from Yiddish ‑>>)
['Separating the chaff from the wheat']
- Separating the useful from the useless,
the men from the boys, the sheep from the goats
2
['Talking about (little) cows and calves,
irrelevant things'] - To chat, make smalltalk
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
'(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)
2
'I'll go for a short walk [around the block]'
even
2
'for a moment'
[with man and power] - with all possible
means, a great effort
2
['with united [powers] forces'] - working
together, a cooperative effort
2
(['All the silliness on a stick'] - 'joking aside,'
now let's stop the joking and get down to business.
Marco's Choice
Oost west, thuis best
2
['East, West - home is best']
- 'Home sweet home, there is no place like home'
2
3
4
5
['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home']
- 'Home sweet home'
2
['I have something of a house sparrow']
- 'I don't get out much'
(de) huismus
2
"house sparrow"
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
2
3
'Against my (or her or his) better judgement'
'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'
2
'Such nonsense!'
Allemaal onzin!
2
3
All of that is nonsense!
2
'It's not enjoyable anymore, the fun is gone'
2
'Are you crazy, are you out of your mind?'
Conversations
Template -
Alliterations
Don't be a
dief (thief) /
dievegge (female thief) -
diefstal (theft) -
stelen (to steal) -
heler (dealer in stolen goods) -
hear Dutch -
2