DutchNetherlands

Bike related expressions in Dutch

User Avatar   Created by amarens   •   Contains9   entries

Wat heb ik nou aan mijn fiets hangen? *

* What have I got hanging from my bike now?

It means "What is going on?" or "What kind of strange thing is happening now?"

"Wat heb ik nou aan mijn fiets hangen? Sneeuw in de zomer?"

"What have I got hanging from my bike now? Snow in summer?"

User Avatar

by amarens

de fiets aan de haak hangen *

* to hang the bike on the wall

Originally refers to someone stopping with cycling, putting their bike up on the wall, but can now be used for anyone stopping with something.

"Na 30 jaar heeft hij de fiets aan de muur gehangen."

"After 30 years he hung his bike from the wall."

User Avatar

by amarens

eerst mijn fiets terug *

* first my bike back

"First my bicycle back" is a statement in the Netherlands, referring to the seizure of bicycles in the Netherlands in World War II by the German occupiers. In the first two decades after the war, it was regarded as an expression of anti-German sentiment. After that, it became more and more an ironic joke, which can be made in any way, shape or form referring to German having stolen bikes and not giving them back.

*ziet Duitser op fiets* "Nog steeds die fiets niet teruggegeven, hè?"

*sees German on bike* "They still haven't given those bikes back, have they?"

User Avatar

by amarens

ergens doorheen fietsen *

* to bike through something

To go through something fairly quickly.

"We fietsen nu even door je cv heen, dan gaan we er later wat dieper op in."

"We'll just bike through your resume now, and then we'll go into more depth later."

User Avatar

by amarens

ga toch fietsen *

* go ride a bike

A way of telling someone to go away or to stop being ridiculous.

"10 euro voor een biertje? Ga toch fietsen."

"10 euro for a beer? Go ride a bike."

User Avatar

by amarens

iets boven de tafel fietsen *

* to bike something above the table

To get clarity about something or someone's intentions.

"Voordat we verder gaan met dit voorstel moeten eerst zijn bedoelingen boven tafel fietsen."

"Before we continue with this proposal we must first cycle the intentions above the table.

User Avatar

by amarens

iets in het contract fietsen *

* to cycle something in the contract

To add something to a contract during negotiations.

"Het aantal vakantiedagen moeten we nog wel in het contract fietsen."

"We still have to cycle the number of vacation days in the contract."

User Avatar

by amarens

op 'n oude fiets moet je het leren *

* on an old bike you must learn it

Used to refer to a young person going out with an older partner (often younger men with older women). It can also be used for people using other learning tools that are quite old (like old books, etc.)

"Heb je de nieuwe vriendin van Jos gezien?" "Tsja, op een oude fiets moet je het leren."

"Have you seen Jos's new girlfriend?" "Well, you have to learn it on an old bicycle."

User Avatar

by amarens

op die fiets *

* on that bike

When you previously didn't understand correctly, but now you do, you can say "Ah, op die fiets".

"Dus je gaat alleen?" "Nee, maar ik ben de enige van onze familie die gaat." "Ah, op die fiets."

"So you are going alone?" "No, but I am the only person of our family that is going." "Ah, on that bike."

User Avatar

by amarens