[The Face of Dutch]
Search my site: 'Like' the Dutch Website on Facebook - New material added: July 2014
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 click to hear 2 - (de) uitdrukking click to hear 2 - (het) gezegde click to hear 'saying, standard phrase, proverb, idiom'
- 'gezegde' may also mean 'the verbs in a sentence'

Scattered over my website is a large number of Dutch lines and phrases. Fred 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 >>. 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 about 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
- Time - Weather - Food and Drink - Sleep - Travel - The Senses
Jobs and Lines of Work - Dutch Fun Phrases - Conversations Template
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
Jan Jansen click to hear 'John Doe' - seen as the most common first and last names
Jan en Alleman click to hear 2 ['John and Everybody'] - 'Everybody' (somewhat negative)
Jan met de pet click to hear 2 ['John with the cap'] 'the man in the street'
Jan Salie click to hear 2 a person without initiative or energy - old-fashioned (salie = sage, a mild herb)
Jan Rap en z'n maat click to hear ['John "Wastewood" and his comrade'] 'Bad people, punks'
also: Tuig van de richel click to hear 2 'Bad people, scum'
Slapjanus click to hear a weak, cowardly person
Saaie Piet click to hear a bore
Zeurpiet click to hear a person who nags a lot, complains about everything - Zit niet zo te zeuren click to hear 2 'Now stop that nagging'
Pietje-precies click to hear a person who pays much attention to details and perfection
Brave Hendrik click to hear 2 also: Een brave borst click to hear 2 'an obedient, harmless person' - said of husbands and men in general, and good dogs are also called 'braaf' - Brave hond! click to hear 2 3. Dutch brave click to hear 2 (braaf / brave click to hear 2 3) is a false friend - it does NOT mean 'courageous' like in English.
Ware Jacob click to hear 2 'True, real Jacob' - 'Mr. Right'
Jarige Job click to hear the birthday boy
Jarige Jet click to hear the birthday girl - Dutch Birthday
Smeerkees click to hear 2 a person who carelessly gets dirty doing a job
also: Smeerpoets click to hear 2 3 a generally dirty, unclean person
Mafkees click to hear a guy deliberately behaving in an odd way, a goofball
Ongelovige Thomas click to hear (a disbelieving Thomas, a person of small faith - from John 20:28)
Vrolijke Frans click to hear 'Jolly Francis' - a cheerful person
Razende Roeltje click to hear 'Roaring Roland' - a very energetic, quick person
Magere Hein click to hear 'Skinny Henry' - the Grim Reaper
Klaas Vaak click to hear 2 The Sandman
Houten Klaas click to hear 'Wooden Charles' - an awkward person
Jan Klaassen en Katrijn click to hear 'Punch and Judy' - (de) poppenkast click to hear 'a Punch and Judy show'
lastpost click to hear a person who is a nuisance, a pain in the neck
snotneus click to hear 2 3 (4) [snotty nose] 'whippersnapper' a guy too young for his position
minkukel click to hear a jerk
flapdrol click to hear [flopping turd] - a ridiculous person, male
oen click to hear 2 a stupid guy, a person who habitually acts in a stupid way - hij is een oen click to hear he is stupid
kwibus click to hear a weird, idiosyncratic person - 'n rare kwibus click to hear 2
nietsnut click to hear 2 a good-for-nothing, useless person
slijmbal click to hear 2 3 'a slippery person trying to come into your favor by sweet-talking'
slome duikelaar click to hear 2 ( 3 4 ) [turgid dreidel] a dull, boring, low-energy person
Hij zit te zwammen click to hear He's talking nonsense
Hij is in een slecht humeur click to hear He is in a bad mood
Hij is in de war click to hear slow He is very confused
Hij is van slag click to hear 2 'He's not his ususal self' - also said of clocks that are not running properly
De kippen zijn van de leg click to hear 'The chickens are not laying eggs regularly'
Hij bakt ze bruin click to hear ['He's baking them brown'] He's going to exremes, he's behaving badly
Hij neemt geen blad voor de mond click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 ['He's at home in all markets'] - said of a versatile, practical person
Hij kent z'n Pappenheimers click to hear 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 click to hear 2 ['He was like possessed by the devil'?] 'He was very angry' - 'Des' and the S of 'duivels' are an old-fashioned possessive form
Hij laat er geen gras over groeien click to hear 2 3 ['He doesn't let (allow) grass grow over it'] - he's taking action immediately
Hij is lang van stof click to hear 2 [~'He talks at great length'] 'His talking drags on and on'
Te dom om voor de duivel te dansen click to hear slow ['too stupid to dance for the devil'] - said of a not very bright person
Een aardje naar z'n vaartje click to hear 2 'a nature like his Dad' - he is like his Dad
Baas boven baas click to hear 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 click to hear 'Lord and master' - the ultimate authority, the person in power
Buiten z'n boekje click to hear 2 ['outside his little book'] - said of a person overstepping his authority
Anderhalve man en een paardenkop click to hear 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 click to hear - 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 click to hear 2 3 said of a person who's honest and frank, a straight talker who doesn't sweet-talk
Een roepende in de woestijn click to hear 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 click to hear means 'desert'
Historical Quotes
Ik val aan - volg mij click to hear I am attacking - follow me.
Ascribed to Rear Admiral Karel Doorman click to hear 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 click to hear '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 ... click to hear 'Stranger, tell the Spartans ...' (Thermopylae monument inscription)
Wat doe je, als je dingen ziet die niemand ooit heeft gezien? click to hear 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 click to hear 17th Century Dutch scientist, inventor of the microscope - Lens on Leeuwenhoek
Al wat groeit en bloeit en ons telkens weer boeit click to hear 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 click to hear 2 is literally 'to shackle, to handcuff,' but often means 'to captivate, to be fascinating'
Het boeide me niet click to hear 'It was not really interesting, I was bored by it'
Beter langharig dan kortzichtig! click to hear 2 'Better long-haired than short-sighted'
Sixties slogan protesting that school principals ordered long-haired boys to get haircuts
Alles sal reg kom click to hear (South African) 'Everything will [turn out to be] be OK' Ascribed to South-African General De Wet (Generaal De Wet click to hear 2)
Money
Een appeltje voor de dorst click to hear 2 ['a small apple for the thirst'] a nest egg, money put away for bad times
De kost gaat voor de baat uit click to hear 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 click to hear
't Mag geen geld kosten click to hear '[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 click to hear / Je kunt je d'r geen buil aan vallen click to hear
['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 click to hear 2 3 ['A pity about the money'] - 'A waste of money, something not worth the expense'
Weggegooid geld click to hear 2 ['money thrown away'] 'money wasted, pointless spending'
Er zit geen brood in click to hear ['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 click to hear ['It's not a pot of grease'] - there is not much money to be made from it
De tering naar de nering zetten click to hear 'to bring spending in line with income'
By itself, (de) tering also used to mean 'tuberculosis;' (de) spijsvertering click to hear ('food processing') 'digestion'
Van de hand in de tand leven click to hear 'Living on very little money, without a steady source of income'
Voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rang click to hear 2 3 4 'The best seats in the house for a dime' - said of people who expect the world for a small payment
Jobs, Work, Labor
Opgestroopte mouwen click to hear 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
Een goed begin is het halve werk click to hear 'A good start is half the work, with a good start you're already halfway the job'
Alle begin is moeilijk click to hear 2 3 'Every beginning is difficult'
Goed gereedschap is het halve werk click to hear 2 good tools make a job much easier
De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst click to hear ['the final weights are the heaviest'] the final stage of a job is often the most difficult
Roeien met de riemen die je hebt click to hear 2 ['row with the oars you've got'] - 'make the best of it working with the material (and people) at hand'
- another word for 'oar' is:
(de) roeispaan click to hear 2
De puntjes op de i zetten click to hear 2 "Dotting your i's (and crossing the t's)" - taking care of the final details
En klaar is Kees! click to hear ['... and Casey is done.'] - said when a job is done, a piece of work finished.
'n Fluitje van een cent click to hear 2 ['a penny whistle'] 'a very easy piece of work, quickly done and no problem at all'
Van een leien dakje click to hear / 't Gaat van een leien dakje click to hear [Like a slate roof?] The job is going smoothly
(Maybe slate roofs were a radical improvement?)
't Geheim van de smid click to hear 2 ['the blacksmith's secret'] - a special way of doing something, a craftsman's special ability
also: (de) slag click to hear 2 'knack'
(Not related) Aan de slag! click to hear 2 /or/ Aan 't werk! click to hear To work! Let's get started! Let's start working!
(A little more formal:) Laten we aan 't werk gaan. click to hear 2 Let's get to work, start working. - More phrases with aan 't >>
Hij gooit er met de pet naar click to hear 2 3 ['He's throwing his cap at it'] 'He's not making a serious effort'
Op een laag pitje click to hear ['On a slow burner'] 'On the back burner' - something given low priority, not pursued vigorously
Al doende leert men click to hear 2 3 ['while doing, you learn'] 'practice makes perfect'
Jong geleerd, oud gedaan click to hear 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 click to hear 2 '[Having] Catching the wind in the sails, going full sail' - making good progress, doing well in business
't Gaat me voor de wind click to hear 2 'It's like I have the wind in my back' - I'm doing very well (in business)
Ik werk me te pletter click to hear 2 'I'm working very hard'
Ik werk me een ongeluk click to hear 2 3 / Ik werk me 'n ongeluk click to hear 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 click to hear 'to give, lend a hand, to help, assist' - Ik hielp hem een handje click to hear 'I gave him a hand, I helped him'
But: Een hand geven click to hear 2 'to shake hands - Ik gaf hem een hand click to hear 2 'I shook hands with him'
Liever lui dan moe click to hear 2 Rather lazy than tired, preferring not making an effort
We zullen dat varkentje wel even wassen click to hear 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'
Things People Say
Bij wijze van spreken click to hear 2 3 ['in a manner of speaking'] - "to use a figure of speech"
Onder ons gezegd en gezwegen ... click to hear 2 ['Spoken and silent between us'] 'Just between you and me ...'
't Is niet waar! click to hear ['It's not true!'] - ironic use, like 'You don't say!'
Maar niet heus! click to hear ['But not really'] 'NOT!'
Ik heb het met eigen ogen gezien click to hear 2 3 ['I've seen it with my own eyes'] - I witnessed it myself, personally
"Rij jij of rij ik?" click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 'Lightning must have struck' - said when a traffic light takes long to change
Ga toch fietsen! click to hear 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!'
Ben je gek geworden? click to hear 'Have you gone crazy, are you out of your mind?'
Ben je helemaal gek geworden? click to hear 'Have you gone completely crazy, are you out of your mind? What's with you?'
Ben je gek! click to hear 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 click to hear 'It's driving me crazy'
't Gaat je niet in de kouwe (koude) kleren zitten click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'It's over my [cap] head' - I don't understand it, it's too difficult for me
Breek me de bek niet open click to hear '[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 click to hear 2 'I know all about it' - not boasting about academic knowledge but stating familiarity with misfortune and adversity.
Beter laat dan nooit click to hear 'Better late than never'
Langzaam maar zeker click to hear 2 3 'Slowly but steadily, slow but sure'
Je wordt geflest waar je bij staat click to hear ['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 click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 ['I do not completely trust it'] - 'there's something fishy about it'
In een kwade reuk staan click to hear 2 3 'to have a bad reputation' - So NOT the literal meaning 'being in a place of bad smell'
Ik kan er niet bij click to hear 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? click to hear 'What's in those people's minds?' - (de) ziel click to hear 'soul'
Wat bezielt die mensen om dat te doen? click to hear 2 3 'What makes those people do that?'
Ik sta nergens meer van te kijken click to hear 2 'Nothing surprises me anymore' - Thank you, Johan!
't Verbaast me niks click to hear 2 'I'm not surprised'
Ik kon m'n oren niet geloven click to hear 2 3 ['I couldn't believe my ears'] - Hearing something incredible or something you had not thought possible
Hij keek z'n ogen uit click to hear 2 3 He really enjoyed seeing something unexpected
Hij had er wel oren naar click to hear 2 3 ['he had ears for it'] he'd like to join in (an activity)
Laat me niet lachen click to hear 2 ['Don't (let) make me laugh'] - 'That's ridiculous'
Niks aan te doen! click to hear 2 3 / Er is niks aan te doen click to hear ['Nothing can be done about it'] 'It can't be helped'
Ik kan niet heksen click to hear 2 3 ['I can't "witch"' - I don't have supernatural powers] 'I'm doing it as fast as I can'
Daar was ik al bang voor click to hear 2 'I was already afraid of that'
Ik ben het beu click to hear 'I'm sick of it, I can't stand it anymore'
Wat sneu click to hear 2 'What a pity, I'm sorry it ended that way'
Ik baal als een stier click to hear 2 3 '[I'm annoyed like a bull'] - I am deeply annoyed
(de) baaldag click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 'I am bored stiff'
Ik lap 't aan m'n laars click to hear 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 click to hear 2 or: ik trek me d'r niks van aan click to hear 2 3 with a similar meaning
Ik werd er helemaal naar van click to hear ['It made me feel miserable all over'] - a horrible event or fear made me sick
Ik sta te trillen op m'n benen click to hear 2 ['I'm shaking on my legs'] - 'I'm trembling with fear or from fatigue'
Ik word geleefd click to hear ['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 click to hear ['I'm fully cooked'] - I've had it, I'm done for, I've worked on this, lived with this for too long
Door schade en schande wijs geworden click to hear 2 3 - Door schade en schande click to hear '(educated) by damage and shame' - the school of hard knocks
Het leed is geleden click to hear 2 'The suffering is over'
Dat is verleden tijd click to hear 2 3 'That is past, that is over' - "That's history"
Oud nieuws click to hear 2 'old news' - Dat is oud nieuws click to hear 2 'That's old news'
Geen centje pijn click to hear ['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 click to hear 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 click to hear / Dan is 't uit met de pret click to hear 2 / Dan is 't gedaan met de pret click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'There is no need for much precision or strictness, there is a lot of leeway, a wide margin'
Opgeruimd staat netjes click to hear ['Cleared up, stored away looks neat'] 'Things out of the way looks good'
Wat de boer niet kent dat lust-ie niet click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'Too much of a good thing' (say, cherry juice)
Hoe groter geest, hoe groter beest click to hear 2 3 4 'The greater the mind, the more like a beast' - great intellects often behave badly
Waarin een klein land groot kan zijn click to hear '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 click to hear 2 'Holland at its most narrow' - Dutch 'Holland' click to hear 2 is 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 click to hear 'Dutch small-mindedness, pettiness'
- related: (de) betutteling click to hear 2 'bureacrats (or others in positions of power) treating people like children'
Zeer vereerd click to hear ['much honored'] - I'm honored
Verstand op nul click to hear 2 'I'm shutting down my brain' - often combined with:
Blik op oneindig click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 4 ['However quick a lie may be, the truth will overtake it'] - Lies won't last, truth will come out eventually
Nonsense Statements
De uitzondering die de regel bevestigt click to hear 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 click to hear 2 'counter-example.' I read somewhere that the Latin original says something like 'the exception that tests the rule.'
Drie maal is scheepsrecht click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear '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 click to hear 'fear and dread' - (de) vrees click to hear is when you know what you're afraid of, (de) angst click to hear is an undefined fear
De beste stuurlui staan aan wal click to hear '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 click to hear ['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 click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear ['Tall trees catch much wind'] The high, mighty and famous catch much flak, get a lot of criticism
Geduld is een schone zaak click to hear 'Patience is good (but difficult)' - 'Patience is a virtue'
Beter een goede buur dan een verre vriend click to hear 2 'a good neighbor is more useful than a faraway friend'
Velen worden geroepen, maar weinigen worden uitgekozen click to hear Many are called, but few are chosen
Honger maakt rauwe bonen zoet click to hear 2 ['hunger makes raw beans sweet'] Want changes your perception
Uit het oog, uit het hart click to hear 2 3 4 ['out of eye, out of heart'] - 'out of sight, out of mind'
Alles grijpt in elkaar click to hear 2 'everything is connected, all things hang together'
Geen rozen zonder doornen click to hear ['No roses without thorns'] 'Nice things always come with problematic attachments'
Onkruid vergaat niet click to hear '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 click to hear ['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 click to hear 2 3 '[Forge] Work the iron when it's hot'
Je moet ijzer smeden als 't heet is click to hear 2 3 'You should work the iron when it's hot' - Do something at the right moment
Beidt Uw tijd click to hear 2 3 'Bide your time' - be patient, wait for the right moment
Wie niet waagt, die niet wint click to hear 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
Alles met mate click to hear 'Be moderate in everything'
Beter ten halve gekeerd dan ten hele gedwaald click to hear 2 'It's better to [turn] change direction halfway than to be wrong all the way'
Gedane zaken nemen geen keer click to hear 2 3 'What's done is done' (You can't turn around what's done in the past)
Spreken is zilver, zwijgen is goud click to hear 2 ['speaking is silver, to keep silent is gold'] - speaking is good, but keeping silent is better
'Speech may be silver, but silence is golden'
Descriptive
Ons koude kikkerland click to hear 2 3 'Our chilly frogs' country' - Holland: it's a wretched place but it's home
Hij sliep als een os click to hear 2 'He was sleeping like [an ox] a log'
Hij viel als een blok in slaap click to hear 2 3 'He fell asleep very quickly' ('like a log')
Zo dood als een pier click to hear dead like a [rainworm] doornail, dead like disco
Zo fris als een hoentje click to hear ['as fresh (new?) as a young chicken'] in very good shape, wide awake, well rested and feeling healthy - 'as fit as a fiddle'
kiplekker click to hear 2 - ik voel me kiplekker click to hear 2 'I feel great, couldn't feel better' - it's a mystery to me why chickens are seen as paragons of health
Op 't nippertje click to hear 'in the nick of time, at the last moment, just in time'
Uit de losse pols click to hear ['from the loose wrist'] - off the cuff, improvising, like for instance giving a very rough estimate
Zonder blikken of blozen click to hear 2 ['without batting an eye or blushing'] - shamelessly doing something questionable
't Is zwaar te verteren click to hear 2 3 [heavy] 'hard to digest' - usually said of unpleasant knowledge or things you have to accept
Daar is de Engelse schroevendraaier gebruikt click to hear '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 click to hear 2 'Like mustard after the meal' - something that comes in too late and is now useless
De hond in de pot vinden click to hear ['finding the dog in the cooking pot']
Dan vind je de hond in de pot click to hear 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 what was left of it - general meaning: coming late you may be left empty-handed
Roet in 't eten gooien click to hear 'throwing soot in the food' - ruining plans
Je moet geen roet in 't eten gooien click to
  hear 'Don't ruin the plans.'
In geuren en kleuren click to hear 2 (3) [in smells and colors] in full detail, an elaborate, lively description
Dat is een ander verhaal click to hear 2 'That's another story'
't Is maar een verhaaltje click to hear 'It's only a story'
De kat op het spek binden click to hear 2 ['tying the cat to the bacon'] - (to the speaker) 'a dangerous policy that sets up for failure'
De kat uit de boom kijken click to hear 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 click to hear 2 [dredging up old cows from the ditch] pointless talk about foregone matters, flogging a dead horse
Tussen de wal en 't schip click to hear 2 ['(falling) between the quay and the ship'] - 'to fall between two stools'
Achter 't net vissen click to hear 2 ['fishing behind the net'] - not catching anything, not getting what you want
Niet over één nacht ijs gaan click to hear 2 3 ['Not walking on ice of one night'] - 'to be careful, to proceed with much caution'
Een advies in de wind slaan click to hear 2 slow ['Throw an advice to the wind'] - ignoring sensible counsel
Kapers op de kust click to hear ['pirates on the coast'] - There are competitors about
Bij gebrek aan beter click to hear 'Lacking a better alternative'
Met alle mogelijke middelen click to hear 2 'With all possible means'
Vechten tegen de Bierkaai click to hear / 't Is vechten tegen de Bierkaai click to hear 2 3 ['it's like fighting the Bierkaai'] 'A hopeless struggle you can't possibly win'
'De Bierkaai' click to hear 2 ('Beer Quay'?) was a rowdy neigborhood in old Amsterdam
In de aap gelogeerd click to hear ['lodging at the Monkey's?'] in trouble, not in a good place
Ik lachte me een kriek click to hear 'I laughed a lot' [so much that it hurt]
Een veer laten click to hear ['to drop a feather'] - accept a loss, make a concession
Water bij de wijn click to hear 2 (doen click to hear 2) '(mixing) water into the wine' - going for a compromise
Hij houdt z'n poot stijf click to hear ['he's keeping his paw stiff'] 'he's not giving in'
't Ligt voor de hand click to hear literally: 'it's close at hand,' but it usually means 'it's obvious'
Als een mes door de boter click to hear 'Like knife [cutting through] butter' - very easily
Een druppel op een gloeiende plaat click to hear 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 click to hear ['storming into the house, flattening the door'] to come straight to the point, without delay or hesitation
Een heet hangijzer click to hear 2 A problem that's hard to handle but not going away
De hele santekraam click to hear 'The whole shebang, kit and kaboodle'
Bepakt en bezakt click to hear ['packed and bagged, with packs and bags ready'] Ready for travel
Van de hak op de tak springen click to hear 2 3 'in conversation, frequently and (apparenty) at random changing the subject'
Dag in, dag uit click to hear 2 ['Day in, day out'] - Every day
Een dag als alle andere click to hear 2 3 ['a day like all others'] 'Just another day'
Op een blauwe maandag click to hear ['On a blue monday'] For a short, insignificant time in the past
Met het oog op morgen click to hear 2 'With an eye on tomorrow' - taking the future into? consideration
De tijd vliegt click to hear 'time flies' - 'time passes quickly'
Waar blijft de tijd? click to hear 2 3 4 5 'Where does the time go?' - sadly recalling good things that are past, forever gone
Gezelligheid kent geen tijd click to hear 'Time flies when you're having a good time with friends'
Gebed zonder end click to hear ['endless prayer'] something that takes very long
Er komt geen eind aan click to hear 2 'There is no end to it, it goes on for a very long time'
't Eind is zoek click to hear things are escalating, where will it end?
Vroeger was alles beter click to hear ['In the past everything was better'] 'Everything was better in the past'
Uit de oude doos click to hear 2 3 4 ['from the old box'] 'something old, old-fashioned'
The common word for 'old-fashioned' is: ouderwets click to hear - Dat is zo ouderwets! click to hear 'that's so old-fashioned!'
Zo oud als de weg naar Kralingen click to hear 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 click to hear (1970)
Je kunt er geen touw aan vastknopen click to hear 2 ['you can't tie a rope to it'] 'it's incomprehensible'
Je kunt wel zien uit welke hoek de wind waait click to hear 2 ['You can see from which corner the wind is blowing'] 'You can see where that's coming from, what's behind it'
En dan komt de aap uit de mouw click to hear 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 click to hear Strange (weird) but true
oud zeer click to hear ['old hurts'] historical wrongs, unresolved issues from the past
Tegen heug en meug click to hear 'Doing something under protest, like having to eat something you really don't like'
Een bittere pil click to hear 2 'a bitter pill' Something unpleasant you have to get through or live with
(Het is click to hear) boter aan de galg click to hear ['It's butter on the gallows'] - something valuable wasted, a useless effort
Boter op z'n hoofd click to hear 2 - Hij heeft boter op z'n hoofd click to hear 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' click to hear 2
'Hij heeft' sometimes contracts as: "hij'ft" - Hij'ft boter op z'n hoofd click to hear
Een koekje van eigen deeg click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 'You shouldn't look into the mouth of a gift horse' - don't criticize a present
't Is een aflopende zaak click to hear 2 'it's going downhill, it's on its last legs'
Onder vier ogen click to hear 2 ['Under four eyes'] 'In private, one-on-one conversation'
Gevoel van eigenwaarde click to hear ['feeling of own-worth'] 'self-esteem'
De dorst naar kennis click to hear "the thirst for knowledge"
De klant is koning click to hear 'the customer is king' the customer's opinion is the most important (we hope)
't Zit als gegoten click to hear ['It fits like it was cast'] - said of well-fitting clothes
Situations
Er is wat aan de hand click to hear 2 'There is something going on'
Wat is er aan de hand? click to hear 'What's going on? What's happening?'
Er is niks aan de hand click to hear 2 'There's nothing (unusual) going on'
't Loopt uit de hand click to hear 2 3 'It's getting out of hand, escalating, control is lost'
De teerling is geworpen click to hear 2 'the die is cast' - a risky venture has started, passed a point of no return
- Dutch teer click to hear (teder click to hear) means 'tender, fragile' - I used to think the literal meaning of the phrase was that something vulnerable had been exposed.
De bom is gebarsten click to hear 2 ['the bomb has burst, exploded'] 'The dreaded event has come to pass, things have escalated, come to a head'
Alle hens aan dek! click to hear 2 3 'All hands on deck' Dutchified English phrase 'All crew to stations'?
Er zit geen schot in click to hear 2 'There is very little progress, things got stuck'
Je kunt er niet omheen click to hear 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 click to hear 2 ['It fades into the fog'] A performance doesn't work out, ends weak - "fades"
Er gaat er wel eens een de mist in click to hear 2 Occasionally, a song or a piece fails
't Is een uitdaging click to hear 2 3 'It's a challenge'
In de piepzak zitten click to hear 'to be afraid'
Met de handen in het haar click to hear 2 ['With the hands in the hair'] despairing, not knowing what to do
De stilte voor de storm click to hear The quiet before the storm, before a major event
Geen wolkje aan de lucht click to hear 2 [Not a cloud in the sky] No problems are expected
Een geluk bij een ongeluk click to hear 2 ['a lucky coincidence with an accident'] - a bright, hopeful spot in a bad event
't Kan vriezen en 't kan dooien click to hear [It may freeze or it may thaw] Things can go either way
't Is hollen of stilstaan click to hear 2 3 4 ['It's either running or staying put'] - 'When it rains, it pours'
Als puntje bij paaltje komt click to hear 'When push comes to shove, at the moment of truth'
Dan zijn we nog verder van huis click to hear 2 3 ['Then we'll be even farther from home'] - Making an already bad situation worse
Van de regen in de drup click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 ['But we are left with the baked pears'] But we are the ones that have to pick up the pieces
De druppel die de emmer deed overlopen click to hear 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 click to hear [Let's not launch too quickly] Let's not go ahead too fast
Dan heb je de poppen aan het dansen click to hear 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 click to hear 2 3 4 [probably something like 'then your windows will rattle'] 'then trouble begins, things will get lively'
Door de rooie gaan click to hear ['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 click to hear 2
Over de schreef gaan click to hear 2 ['overstepping the "scratch mark," go beyond the pale'] going too far, into indecent, unacceptable behavior
Met de ouderdom komen de gebreken click to hear 2 'With old age, defects appear'
De dagen zat click to hear 2 ['I've had my fill of days'] - 'Tired of the days' - Usually: Oud en de dagen zat click to hear 2 3 'Old and tired of life'
Twee vliegen in één klap click to hear 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 click to hear 2 ['They are at the right address'] They came to the right place
Bij nader inzien click to hear ['Upon closer inspection'] - usually: 'after some refelction, having given it some thought ...'
Dan houdt alles op click to hear 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'
Advice, Counsel, Recommendations, Commands
Doe niet zo raar! click to hear 2 Don't be weird, get a grip on yourself, behave normally
Doe niet zo stoer! click to hear ['Do not pretend to be that brave'] - behave normally, be modest
Schiet op! click to hear 2 'hurry up!' - usually schieten click to hear 2 >> means 'to shoot' - like, a gun.
't Zekere voor 't onzekere nemen click to hear 2 3 '[to take the certain before the uncertain] to stay on the safe side' not taking risks
Voor alle zekerheid click to hear 2 to be on the safe side taking extra precautions
Alle beetjes helpen click to hear '[All little bits] Every little bit helps'
Laat de boel de boel click to hear 'Leave things as they are' - stop worrying, take a break
Baat het niet, dan schaadt het niet click to hear 2 'If there is no benefit, there will no damage either'
I always thought this was a bit silly, for there are many harmful things around - but maybe it encourages experimentation with harmless medication or remedies
Voetjes van de vloer! click to hear ['(Little) Feet off the floor'] - "Get dancing!"
Hou je hoofd erbij! click to hear 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 click to hear 'don't make a fuss, lay low, don't draw attention to yourself' (from Portuguese deixar)
Geen woorden maar daden! click to hear 2 ['No words but deeds'] - We want actions, not words
Met twee woorden spreken! click to hear 2 ['Use two words when you speak'] telling children to speak politely, adding 'thank you' and 'please'
De kinderen achter het behang plakken click to hear 'glueing the children behind the wallpaper' - many an exasperated parent's secret wish
De morgenstond heeft goud in de mond click to hear 2 [The dawn hour has gold in its mouth] The early bird gets the worm
Als je 't nu niet doet, wanneer dan wel? click to hear 2 ['If you don't do it now, when are you?'] - If not now, when?
Van uitstel komt afstel click to hear 2 3 'Postponement leads to cancellation'
Bezint eer ge begint click to hear 2 3 'Consider, think before you [start] act'
Haastige spoed is zelden goed click to hear 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 click to hear 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 click to hear 'Let him 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 click to hear 2 3 4 [After rain the sun will come out] Bad things don't last
Achter de wolken schijnt de zon click to hear 2 ['Behind the clouds, the sun is shining'] - 'Look further and you'll see things aren't all bad'
Niet bij de pakken neerzitten click to hear 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 click to hear "Ask not why," 'Do not ask why'
Waarom? Daarom. click to hear 'Why? Because.'
Waarom zijn de bananen krom? click to hear 'Why are bananas [crooked] not straight?' - rhetorical question, often said when there is no answer to another 'why?'
Wee je gebeente! click to hear 2 ['woe to your bones' (I'll break them all)] a warning, not really a threat
Dan ben je nog niet jarig! click to hear 2 3 'It won't be (feel) like your birthday ...' - a warning, not really a threat - Birthday
Dan moet je vroeger opstaan click to hear 2 3 'Then you'll have to get up earlier' - i.e. for that you'll have to be more alert and more active
Actions
Schoon schip maken click to hear ['clean the ship'] To remove old problems for a fresh start
De bakens verzetten click to hear 2 '[moving the beacons] setting a new course' - figuratively: change to a new policy
Het roer omgooien click to hear ['turning around the rudder'] drastically changing course
Water naar de zee dragen click to hear 2 ['Carrying water to the sea'] 'Carrying coal to Newcastle' - engaging in a pointless act
Iemand een poets bakken click to hear 2 'to play a trick, a practical joke on someone'
Geen sjoege geven click to hear 2 'giving no reaction, showing no emotion' (from Yiddish)
Stennis maken click to hear 2 'to cause a commotion, get rowdy, raise a stink' (from Yiddish)
't Kaf van 't koren scheiden click to hear ['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 click to hear 2 ['Talking about (little) cows and calves, irrelevant things'] - To chat, make smalltalk
Pappen en nathouden click to hear 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 click to hear '(going outside) to get [a fresh nose] some fresh air'
Ik ga even een blokje om click to hear 2 'I'll go for a short walk [around the block]' - even click to hear 2 'for a moment'
Marco's Choice
Oost west, thuis best click to hear 2 ['East, West - home is best'] 'Home sweet home, there is no place like home'
Zoals 't klokje thuis tikt, tikt het nergens click to hear 2 3 4 5 ['There is no place where the clock ticks like at home'] 'Home sweet home'
Ik ben een beetje een huismus click to hear 2 ['I have something of a house sparrow'] 'I don't get out much'
huismus click to hear 2 "house sparrow"
De macht der gewoonte click to hear 2 3 ['the power of habit'] - it's hard to break a routine
der click to hear is an old-fashioned form of 'van de' (of the) - (de) gewoontemens click to hear 2 3 'creature of habit'
De Macht van Het Kleine click to hear 2 ['The Power of The Little Thing'] a charity that collects small donations, something like The March of Dimes
Tegen beter weten in click to hear 2 3 'Against my (or her or his) better judgement'
Teveel gedoe click to hear 'too much hassle' - Dat is teveel gedoe click to hear 2 'that's too much hassle'
Wat een gedoe! click to hear 2 'Such a hassle!'
Veel gedoe om niks click to hear 'much ado about nothing'
Wat een onzin! click to hear 2 'Such nonsense!'
't Is niet leuk meer click to hear 2 'It's not enjoyable anymore, the fun is gone'
Ben je helemaal geschuffeld? click to hear 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

email - Copyright © Marco Schuffelen 2012. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, redistributed, or hotlinked to.
Don't be a dief (thief) / dievegge (female thief) - diefstal (theft) - stelen (to steal) - heler (dealer in stolen goods) - hear Dutch - 2