Dutch Idioms

Essential Day-to-Day Idioms to Instantly Sound More Fluent and Speak with Confidence

lingoXpress

• Publisher: lingoXpress
• Year: 2024
• eBook ISBN: 9781991325051
• Edition: 0
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Languages
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Learn to speak Dutch like a pro with Dutch Idioms: Essential Day-to-Day Idioms to Instantly Sound More Fluent and Speak with Confidence.

This book is perfect for anyone who wants to sound more natural when speaking Dutch. It's packed with common idioms used in everyday conversations, making it easier to understand the Dutch and express yourself like a native.

Each idiom comes with a simple explanation, there are also exercises and examples to show you how to use it.Whether you're learning Dutch for fun, travel, or work, this book will boost your confidence and fluency.

Inside, you'll find:

Useful idioms explained in plain English.

Practice exercises to help you learn faster and memorize the idioms.

Easy examples so you can start using the idioms in real-life situations.

Get your copy today and start sounding more fluent in Dutch right away!

Table of contents

• lingoXpress
• Het is niet alles goud wat er blinkt Literal: Not everything that shines is gold. Meaning: Appearances can be deceptive.
• Een kat in de zak kopen Literal: To buy a cat in the bag. Meaning: To buy something without inspecting it first, often leading to disappointment.
• Met de deur in huis vallen Literal: To fall with the door into the house. Meaning: To get straight to the point without any introduction.
• Op je hoede zijn Literal: To be on your guard. Meaning: To be cautious or alert.
• De bloemetjes buiten zetten Literal: To put the little flowers outside. Meaning: To go out and celebrate, often with a party.
• De pot op Literal: To go to the pot. Meaning: To go away, or it can be used to express frustration. Use wisely, this one could be considering cursing.
• De appel valt niet ver van de boom Literal: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Meaning: Children often resemble their parents.
• Hoge bomen vangen veel wind Literal: Tall trees catch a lot of wind. Meaning: People in high positions face more criticism or challenges.
• Twee vliegen in één klap Literal: Two flies in one hit. Meaning: To kill two birds with one stone.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Twee vliegen in één klap 2.Met de deur in huis vallen 3.De bloemetjes buiten zetten 4.Het is niet alles goud wat er blinkt 5.Een kat in de zak kopen Meanings 1.To go out and celebrate 2.To kill two birds with one stone 3.To get straight to the point 4.To buy something without inspecting it first 5.Appearances can be deceptive
• Answers 1.De bloemetjes buiten zetten To go out and celebrate 2.Twee vliegen in één klap To kill two birds with one stone 3.Met de deur in huis vallen To get straight to the point 4.Het is niet alles goud wat er blinkt Appearances can be deceptive 5.Een kat in de zak kopen To buy something without inspecting it first
• Writing Exercise Try to remember at least 3 idioms you learned! Write them down along with their translations as a way of memorizing them.
• Het kaf van het koren scheiden Literal: To separate the chaff from the wheat. Meaning: To distinguish between what is useful and what is not.
• Dat is een open deur Literal: That’s an open door. Meaning: Something that is very obvious.
• Boter bij de vis doen Literal: To put butter on the fish. Meaning: To make something happen, no more talk, just action.
• Een storm in een glas water Literal: A storm in a glass of water. Meaning: Making a big deal out of a small problem.
• In de kaarten kijken Literal: To look in the cards. Meaning: To predict the future or see what someone’s intentions are.
• Met de mond vol tanden staan Literal: To stand with a mouth full of teeth. Meaning: To be speechless, not knowing what to say.
• Iets op je hart hebben Literal: To have something on your heart. Meaning: To have something weighing on your mind.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.In de kaarten kijken 2.Boter bij de vis doen 3.Een storm in een glas water 4.Het kaf van het koren scheiden 5.Iets op je hart hebben Meanings 1.To have something weighing on your mind 2.To predict the future or see what someone’s intentions are 3.To distinguish between what is useful and what is not 4.Making a big deal out of a small problem 5.To make something happen
• Answers 1.Boter bij de vis doen To make something happen 2.In de kaarten kijken To predict the future or see what someone’s intentions are 3.Een storm in een glas water Making a big deal out of a small problem 4.Het kaf van het koren scheiden To distinguish between what is useful and what is not 5.Iets op je hart hebben To have something weighing on your mind
• De kastanjes uit het vuur halen Literal: To pull the chestnuts out of the fire. Meaning: To do the difficult or risky part of something for someone else.
• Iets in de gaten hebben Literal: To have something in the holes. Meaning: To notice or understand something.
• Van de regen in de drup komen Literal: To go from the rain into the drip. Meaning: To go from a bad situation into a worse one.
• Jezelf in de vingers snijden Literal: To cut yourself in the fingers. Meaning: To do something that backfires or hurts you.
• Als twee druppels water Literal: Like two drops of water. Meaning: To look exactly the same.
• Een oogje in het zeil houden Literal: To keep an eye in the sail. Meaning: To keep an eye on something or someone.
• Met de gebakken peren zitten Literal: To sit with the baked pears. Meaning: To be left with the consequences of a situation.
• Dat is een eitje Literal: That’s an egg. Meaning: That’s very easy.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Dat is een open deur 2.De kastanjes uit het vuur halen 3.In de kaarten kijken 4.Als twee druppels water 5.Boter bij de vis doen Meanings 1.To make something happen 2.To look exactly the same 3.To predict the future or see what someone’s intentions are 4.To do the difficult or risky part of something for someone else 5.Something that is very obvious
• Answers 1.Boter bij de vis doen To make something happen 2.De kastanjes uit het vuur halen To do the difficult or risky part of something for someone else 3.In de kaarten kijken To predict the future or see what someone’s intentions are 4.Als twee druppels water To look exactly the same 5.Dat is een open deur Something that is very obvious
• Door de bomen het bos niet meer zien Literal: To not see the forest for the trees. Meaning: To get lost in details and lose sight of the big picture.
• In de put zitten Literal: To sit in the pit. Meaning: To feel down or depressed.
• De tijd vliegt Literal: Time flies. Meaning: Time passes quickly.
• Met de ogen rollen Literal: To roll the eyes. Meaning: To show annoyance or disbelief.
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.Door de ______ het bos niet meer zien 2.Dat is een ______ 3.Als twee ______ water 4.Van de regen in de drup ______
• Answers 1.Door de bomen het bos niet meer zien 2.Dat is een eitje 3.Als twee druppels water 4.Van de regen in de drup komen
• Twee handen op één buik Literal: Two hands on one belly. Meaning: To be in perfect agreement or harmony.
• Je neus stoten Literal: To bump your nose. Meaning: To be rejected or stopped from something.
• Iets onder de knie hebben Literal: To have something under the knee. Meaning: To have mastered something.
• Zonder blikken of blozen Literal: Without blinking or blushing. Meaning: To do something without hesitation or shame.
• In de gaten houden Literal: To keep in the holes. Meaning: To keep an eye on something.
• Zo de deur uitlopen Literal: To walk right out the door. Meaning: To leave without hesitation.
• Het is in kannen en kruiken Literal: It is in jugs and crocks. Meaning: Everything is settled or in order.
• Een stok achter de deur hebben Literal: To have a stick behind the door. Meaning: To have something that compels someone to act.
• Het komt niet uit de lucht vallen Literal: It doesn’t fall from the sky. Meaning: Nothing happens by chance.
• De kip met de gouden eieren Literal: The hen with the golden eggs. Meaning: Something that produces a lot of value.
• Het is van de regen in de drup Literal: It’s from the rain into the drip. Meaning: To move from a bad situation to a worse one.
• Door de mand vallen Literal: To fall through the basket. Meaning: To be caught in a lie or failure.
• Op je tandvlees lopen Literal: To walk on your gums. Meaning: To be exhausted or near breaking point.
• Iets voor een appel en een ei kopen Literal: To buy something for an apple and an egg. Meaning: To buy something very cheaply.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Op je tandvlees lopen 2.Zonder blikken of blozen 3.Zo de deur uitlopen 4.Het is van de regen in de drup 5.Een stok achter de deur hebben Meanings 1.To do something without hesitation or shame 2.To leave without hesitation 3.To move from a bad situation to a worse one 4.To be exhausted or near breaking point 5.To have something that compels someone to act
• Answers 1.Zo de deur uitlopen To leave without hesitation. 2.Zonder blikken of blozen To do something without hesitation or shame 3.Het is van de regen in de drup To move from a bad situation to a worse one 4.Op je tandvlees lopen To be exhausted or near breaking point 5.Een stok achter de deur hebben To have something that compels someone to act
• De hond in de pot vinden Literal: To find the dog in the pot. Meaning: To arrive too late to get what you wanted.
• De draad kwijt zijn Literal: To have lost the thread. Meaning: To lose track or forget what you were doing.
• Het is een koekje van eigen deeg Literal: It’s a cookie of your own dough. Meaning: You got what you deserved.
• Met een bezemsteel door het huis vegen Literal: To sweep the house with a broomstick. Meaning: To make a clean start or clean up thoroughly.
• Iets in de doofpot stoppen Literal: To put something in the deaf pot. Meaning: To bury or cover up something.
• Ergens geen gras over laten groeien Literal: To not let grass grow over something. Meaning: To act quickly and decisively.
• Met een scheef oog kijken Literal: To look with a squinting eye. Meaning: To look suspiciously or with disapproval.
• De kat uit de boom kijken Literal: To watch the cat from the tree. Meaning: To wait and see how things develop before acting.
• Twee keer nadenken Literal: To think twice. Meaning: To reconsider something carefully.
• Met je handen in het haar zitten Literal: To sit with your hands in your hair. Meaning: To be in distress, unsure of what to do.
• De ballen zijn rond Literal: The balls are round. Meaning: Everything is up for grabs, anything can happen.
• Van een mug een olifant maken Literal: To make an elephant out of a mosquito. Meaning: To exaggerate something small.
• Dat is de druppel op de gloeiende plaat Literal: That’s the drop on the glowing plate. Meaning: A small contribution to a big problem, not enough to make a difference.
• Zo hard als een rots Literal: As hard as a rock. Meaning: Very tough or unyielding.
• Met een scherp oog kijken Literal: To look with a sharp eye. Meaning: To scrutinize or observe carefully.
• Vliegen vangen met boter Literal: To catch flies with butter. Meaning: To use a good method to achieve something.
• Een tandje bijzetten Literal: To add a tooth. Meaning: To put in more effort.
• Over de brug komen Literal: To come over the bridge. Meaning: To deliver on a promise or overcome an obstacle.
• Boven je pet reiken Literal: To reach above your hat. Meaning: To try to do something beyond your abilities.
• Op je tenen lopen Literal: To walk on your toes. Meaning: To be cautious or tread lightly.
• De draad weer oppakken Literal: To pick up the thread again. Meaning: To resume something after a pause.
• Een vinger in de pap hebben Literal: To have a finger in the pie. Meaning: To have influence over something.
• Je ogen sluiten voor iets Literal: To close your eyes to something. Meaning: To ignore or avoid something.
• Iemand in de maling nemen Literal: To take someone in the bait. Meaning: To deceive or trick someone.
• De benen nemen Literal: To take the legs. Meaning: To run away or escape.
• De klok slaan Literal: To strike the clock. Meaning: To act or do something at a set time.
• Writing Exercise Try to remember at least 10 idioms you learned! Write them down as a way of memorizing them.
• Een ei leggen Literal: To lay an egg. Meaning: To achieve something, often unexpectedly.
• De kraan dichtdraaien Literal: To turn the faucet off. Meaning: To stop something, especially excessive spending.
• Zonder omhaal Literal: Without a tangle. Meaning: Without unnecessary elaboration.
• Connect Them Together Below are two lists: one with idioms and one with their translations. Draw lines from the idioms on the left to the matching translations on the right. Depending on your reading device, you might need a notepad. Idioms 1.Zonder omhaal 2.De benen nemen 3.Je ogen sluiten voor iets 4.Een ei leggen 5.Een vinger in de pap hebben Meanings 1.Without unnecessary elaboration 2.To ignore or avoid something 3.To have influence over something 4.To achieve something, often unexpectedly 5.To run away or escape
• Answers 1.Zonder omhaal Without unnecessary elaboration 2.Een vinger in de pap hebben To have influence over something 3.Je ogen sluiten voor iets To ignore or avoid something 4.Een ei leggen To achieve something, often unexpectedly 5.De benen nemen To run away or escape
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.Een ei ______ 2.______ in de maling nemen 3.Op je tenen ______ 4.Met een ______ oog kijken
• Answers 1.Een ei leggen 2.Iemand in de maling nemen 3.Op je tenen lopen 4.Met een scherp oog kijken
• Alle hoeken van de kamer zien Literal: To see all corners of the room. Meaning: To be in a difficult or uncomfortable situation.
• Voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rang zitten Literal: To sit on the first row for a dime. Meaning: To expect more than you deserve.
• De kar trekken Literal: To pull the cart. Meaning: To do all the work or carry the responsibility.
• De bomen in het bos niet meer zien Literal: To not see the trees in the forest. Meaning: To get lost in the details and forget the main issue.
• Van hetzelfde laken een pak Literal: A package from the same sheet. Meaning: A situation where the outcome is similar.
• De hete adem in je nek voelen Literal: To feel the hot breath on your neck. Meaning: To feel pressured or threatened.
• Een paal en perk stellen Literal: To set a pole and a limit. Meaning: To put restrictions or limits on something.
• Het hart op de tong hebben Literal: To have the heart on the tongue. Meaning: To speak directly or openly.
• In de voetsporen treden Literal: To step in the footsteps. Meaning: To follow someone's example or career.
• De koe bij de horens vatten Literal: To take the cow by the horns. Meaning: To face a difficult situation directly.
• De handdoek in de ring gooien Literal: To throw the towel in the ring. Meaning: To give up or admit defeat.
• Een rasechte Hollandse Literal: A real Dutchman. Meaning: A true or typical Dutch person.
• De knoop doorhakken Literal: To cut the knot. Meaning: To make a final decision.
• In de aap gelogeerd zijn Literal: To be lodged in the monkey. Meaning: To be in trouble or in a difficult situation.
• Je hand overspelen Literal: To play your hand. Meaning: To overplay your advantage, usually resulting in failure.
• Complete the Word Below are four idioms with one missing word. Fill in the blank with the correct word to complete the idiom. 1.De handdoek in de ______ gooien 2.______ ______ op de tong hebben 3.De bomen in het bos niet ______ ______ 4.Alle ______ van de kamer zien
• Answers 1.De handdoek in de ring gooien 2.Het hart op de tong hebben 3.De bomen in het bos niet meer zien 4.Alle hoeken van de kamer zien