AVG
Name used here and there by Students
A standard Dutch meal of potatoes (aardappelen), meat (vlees) and vegetables (groenten).
"Wil je wat van mijn pasta?" "Nee gast, ik ga vanavond een AVG'tje doen."
"Do you want some of my pasta?" "No dude, I am going to do a little AVG tonight."
Verweggistan *
* Farawayistan
Name used here and there by Some People
n. • /vɛrˈʋɛɣistɑn/ • A proverbially obscure, far away country. Literally means 'farawayistan', and is used similar to Timbuktu or Outer Mongolia in English.
"Door de Coronacrisis kunnen we voorlopig verre reizen naar Verweggistan wel even vergeten."
"Because of the Corona crisis, we can forget about long journeys to Farawayistan for a while."
Wat heb ik nou aan mijn fiets hangen? *
* What have I got hanging from my bike now?
Expression used just about never by Some People
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?"
als Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen *
* when Easter and Pentecost fall on the same day
Idiom used here and there by Some People
Used to say that something will never happen.
"Mama, wanneer krijg ik een PlayStation?" "Als Pasen en Pinksteren op één dag vallen."
"Mom, when do I get a PlayStation?" "When Easter and Pentecost fall on the same day."
appeltje-eitje *
* little apple - little egg
Expression used here and there by Everybody
When something's really easy, it is 'appeltje eitje'!
"Was het examen moeilijk?" "Nee, het was appeltje-eitje! Ik was heel snel klaar."
"Was the exam difficult?" "No, it was little apple - little egg! I was done really quick."
balen
v. • A verb used for a feeling that is somewhere between being bummed and upset and feeling frustrated, usually about a situation that can not be changed.
"Ik baal er nog steeds van dat mijn bruiloft niet door kon gaan in verband met Corona."
"I am still bummed/frustrated that my wedding couldn't go through because of Corona."
coronamoe *
* corona tired
Word used here and there by Everyone
adjective • Used by people who are tired of the situation surrounding Corona, or tired of having to hear or talk about it all the time.
"Ik ben inmiddels toch wel een beetje coronamoe."
"I am a bit corona tired now."
de fiets aan de haak hangen *
* to hang the bike on the wall
Expression used just about never by Some People
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."
de tering *
* tuberculosis
Expression used here and there by Some people
It's over, everything bad.
"De hele stad gaat naar de tering."
"The whole city is going to the tuberculosis."
door de mand vallen *
* to fall through the basket
Expression used here and there by some people
To be found out, fail or exposed in some way.
“Hij hield het lang vol, maar hij viel bij de laatste vraag toch door de mand.”
“He made it pretty far, but on the last question he fell through the basket.”
eerst mijn fiets terug *
* first my bike back
Expression used just about never by Some People
"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?"
ergens doorheen fietsen *
* to bike through something
Word used here and there by some people
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."
ergens een slaatje uit slaan *
* to beat a little salad out of something
Expression used here and there by some people
To profit from something.
"Er is altijd wel iemand die een slaatje probeert te slaan uit politieke onrust."
"There's always someone trying to beat a little salad out of political unrest."
feest der herkenning *
* party of recognition
Expression used here and there by Some People
An experience that is enjoyable because it evokes a feeling of recognition.
"Ik vond vorige week al mijn oude LP's. Ik heb ze meteen opgezet, en het was echt een feest der herkenning."
"I found all my old LPs last week. I put them on immediately, and it was a real party of recognition."
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."
geen droog brood [eraan] verdienen *
* to not earn dry bread
Expression used here and there by some people
To not be able to make a living or earn any money at all from something.
"Ga je filosofie studeren? Daar kan je nog geen droog brood aan verdienen!"
"Are you going to study philosophy? You can't earn dry bread from that!"
geen kattepis *
* no cat piss
Word used here and there by some people
When something is no joke.
"De training is absoluut geen kattepis!"
"The training is absolutely no cat piss!"
geen wonder *
* no miracle
Standard Phrase used often by most people
Said when something is not very surprising.
“Heb je niks gegeten vanmorgen? Geen wonder dat je zo’n honger hebt!”
“You didn’t eat anything this morning? No miracle that you are so hungry!”
gezellig
Word used all the time by most people
Often wrongly translated to 'cosy', but it's much more than that. 'Gezellig' is anything with a good social vibe, being in good company, having a good time. You need other people for it to be 'gezellig'.
"Dankjewel voor je leuke feestje! Het was weer gezellig!"
Thank you for the wonderful party! It was gezellig!
gosjemikkie
gossiemikkie • An expression of modesty, embarrassment, disappointment, or anger that is fairly inoffensive and tame.
"Gosjemikkie, heb ik alweer de verkeerde sleutel bij me."
"Gosh, I have the wrong key with me again."
grensoverschrijdend *
* boundary surpassing
Word used all the time by everyone
Used to describe things that are unacceptable. Can often used in combination with "gedrag" (behaviour) to describe someone who displays violent or otherwise unacceptable behaviour.
"Grensoverschrijdend gedrag komt nog steeds vaak voor op de werkvloer."
"Boundary surprassing behavior still often occurs in the workplace."
grijsgedraaid
Word used here and there by people who own records
grijsdraaien • Playing a record so often that it becomes damaged and the music quality decreases.
"Had jij ook een LP van Rumours van Fleetwood Mac?" "Ja joh, die heb ik helemaal grijsgedraaid."
"Did you also have an LP of Rumours by Fleetwood Mac?" "Oh yeah, I turned that one completely grey."
huismus *
* house sparrow
Word used here and there by some people
saaie mus • Noun • Someone who likes to stay at home instead of going out, sometimes with slightly negative connotations.
"Thea is wel een beetje een huismus."
"Thea is a bit of a home sparrow."
iets boven de tafel fietsen *
* to bike something above the table
Expression used just about never by Some People
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.
iets door de vingers zien *
* seeing something through the fingers
Expression used often by Everyone
Allowing something when you shouldn't. It's about pretending not to see something, when you actually do see it: covering your eyes but actually looking through your fingers.
"Mark heeft zijn huiswerk niet gemaakt, maar ik zie het door de vingers omdat hij het al zo druk heeft."
"Mark didn't do his homework, but I'll see it through the fingers as he's already so busy."
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."
in vogelvlucht *
* in bird flight
Word used here and there by some people
Quickly, or a quick overview or summary of something.
“We hebben niet zoveel tijd meer dus we gaan even in vogelvlucht door de presentatie heen.”
“We don’t have that much time left so we are going to do the presentation in bird flight.”
je eigen boontjes doppen *
* shell your own little beans
Expression used here and there by some people
To be independent and self-reliant.
"Thea kan prima haar eigen boontjes doppen."
"Thea can shell her own beans just fine."
je op glad ijs begeven *
* to find yourself on slippery ice
Expression used here and there by Everyone
je op dun ijs begeven • To be in a situation where you have to be very careful, or else you will get into trouble.
"Let op je woorden, jongedame. Je begeeft je op glad ijs."
"Watch your language, young lady. You are on slippery ice."
kort door de bocht *
* short through the curve
Expression used here and there by most people
Reductive or oversimplified.
"Dat argument vind ik wel heel erg kort door de bocht."
"I think that argument is very short through the curve."
maar dan heb je ook wat *
* but then you have something
Expression used here and there by some people
It’s often used to justify effort, cost, time, or indulgence by emphasizing that there’s a payoff. Also often used ironically, when the justifications are out of proportion, or when the payoff is not desirable.
"Het duurt even, maar dan heb je ook wat."
"It takes a while, but then you have something."
mama appelsap *
* mama apple juice
Name used all the time by most people
A name used for mishearing a Dutch word in a foreign language song. The name refers to the vocalizations "ma-ma-coo-sah" at the beginning of the song Wanna be startin' somethin' by Michael Jackson (1983), which to Dutch ears sounded like "mama appelsap", which has since turned into the name of the phenomena of hearing Dutch lyrics in foreign songs.
"Ik kan echt niet luisteren naar dat nummer zonder een mama appelsap te horen."
“I honestly can't listen to that song without hearing a mama apple juice.”
met de gebakken peren zitten *
* to sit with the baked pears
Expression used here and there by some people
To be left with an unpleasant situation or problem, often as a consequence of someone else’s actions.
"Je moet je wel even die presentatie afmaken, anders zit ik straks met de gebakken peren."
"You really have to finish that presentation, or I'll be sitting with the baked pears."
natte tosti *
* wet grilled cheese sandwich
Slang used here and there by Students
n. • Slick frat boy who uses a lot of hair gel.
"Zie je die corpsbal met dat haar? Wat een natte tosti!"
"Do you see that frat boy with that haircut? What a wet grilled cheese sandwich!"
nazomeren *
* to aftersummer
Word used here and there by most people
To enjoy warm weather in the months of September or October, right after the summer.
"De zomervakantie zit erop maar gelukkig kunnen we ook in September nog een beetje nazomeren."
"Summer vacation is over but thankfully even in September we are able to aftersummer a little bit."
niet pluis *
* not fluffy
Expression used here and there by some people
Used when someone has a feeling that something is up, not quite right, or feeling a little scared and unsafe.
"Ik hou er niet van om naar het wijkcentrum te gaan. Het is daar niet helemaal pluis."
“I don't like going to the community center. Something is not quite fluffy there.”
nu breekt mijn klomp *
* now breaks my clog
Expression used here and there by some people
This is said when suddenly something unexpected happens or is said, which causes astonishment.
"Je hebt nog nooit een stroopwafel gehad? Nu breekt mijn klomp!"
"You've never had a stroopwafel? Now breaks my clog!"
nu komt de aap uit de mouw *
* now the monkey comes out of the sleeve
Expression used just about never by Everybody
When everything suddenly makes sense. The truth comes out. The cat is out of the bag. Someone's true nature becomes clear.
Caleb wil geld van zijn vader. Hij gaat bij zijn vader op bezoek. Zijn vader vindt dat heel gezellig. Dan vraagt Caleb om geld. Zijn vader zegt: “Nu komt de aap uit de mouw! Je kwam niet voor de gezelligheid, je komt alleen omdat je geld wil.”
Caleb wants money from his father. He visits his father. His father really enjoys the company. Then Caleb asks his father for money. His father says: "Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve! You didn't come here to keep me company, you just came here because you wanted money."
om het af te leren *
* to unlearn it
Expression used here and there by some people
It’s typically used ironically when someone is about to do something one more time, usually something enjoyable, indulgent, or even mildly bad, while pretending it will help you stop doing it in the future.
"Nog ééntje dan, om het af te leren."
"Just one more, to unlearn it."
onbegonnen werk *
* unstarted work
Expression used here and there by some people
Something that is impossible.
"Alle boeken digitaliseren is echt onbegonnen werk."
"Alle boeken digitaliseren is echt onbegonnen werk."
op 'n oude fiets moet je het leren *
* on an old bike you must learn it
Expression used just about never by Some People
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."
op die fiets *
* on that bike
Expression used just about never by Some People
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."
peperduur *
* pepper expensive
Word used here and there by some people
Very expensive.
"Die jas is echt peperduur!"
"That jacket is really pepper expensive!"
petje af *
* little hat off
Expression used often by some people
A way to say you are impressed.
"Heb je dat helemaal zelf gedaan? Petje af, hoor!"
"Did you do that all by yourself? Little hat off!"
plafonddienst *
* ceiling duty
When you aren't able to sleep and stare at the ceiling all night.
"Ik heb niet echt goed geslapen, ik had plafonddienst."
"I didn't really sleep well, I was on ceiling duty."
plat praten *
* to speak flat
Word used here and there by most people
A way to say you are speaking a dialect or regional language, often those spoken in the north and east of the Netherlands.
“Op het werk spreek ik meestal Nederlands, maar thuis praat ik het liefst gewoon plat.”
“At work I mostly speak Dutch, but at home I prefer to just speak flat.”
rare druif *
* strange grape
Expression used here and there by some people
Someone who is a little odd.
"Tante Thea is ook wel een beetje een rare druif."
"Aunt Thea is a bit of a strange grape."
relativeringsvermogen
Word used here and there by Everyone
n. • An ability to put things into perspective, which happens to be an important quality to have in Dutch culture.
"Het is belangrijk om een beetje relativeringsvermogen te hebben."
"It's important to have 'relativeringvermogen'"
restaurant de Gouden Bogen *
* restaurant the Golden Bows
Name used here and there by students
n. • McDonalds.
"Gaan we na het afpilsen nog naar restaurant de Gouden Bogen?"
"After the last beer, are we going to the restaurant the Golden Bows?"
sloddervos *
* slobbering fox
Word used here and there by some people
Someone who is very unorganized with their belongings, or who is not very tidy in general.
"Thea is echt een sloddervos, ze laat alles overal liggen."
"Thea is a real slobbering fox, she leaves her stuff all around."
terug van weggeweest *
* back from having been away
Standard Phrase used here and there by some people
When you are back after having been away for a bit.
“Het heeft even geduurd, maar we zijn weer helemaal terug van weggeweest!”
“It has taken a while, but we are totally back from having been away!”
uitgekeken *
* done looking
verb • To no longer be interested in something. Doesn't have to be a visual thing.
"Ik ben inmiddels wel een beetje uitgekeken op al die nieuwe smaken koffie bij Starbucks."
"I am kind of done looking at all those new flavours of coffee at Starbucks."
uitstraling
Abbreviation used often by everybody
Noun • The impression someone makes on you, the way they look out of their eyes, the way their personality beems into the world - often based on first encounters but can also be used for a friend, a family member or a partner. It’s a very positive word and a huge compliment to receive.
“Ze heeft erg indruk op mij gemaakt tijdens ons gesprek. Dat kwam vooral door haar fijne uitstraling.”
“She really impressed me during our conversation. Mostly because of her nice uitstraling."
ver te zoeken *
* far to seek
Expression used here and there by Most People
When something is not present.
“De motivatie is weer ver te zoeken vandaag.”
“The motivation to study is far to seek today.”
verhaal halen *
* to get story
Expression used here and there by some people
When you go up to someone to get an explanation or be further informed about a certain thing, sometimes in the context of being owed a story.
"Zij kwamen verhaal halen over wat er was gebeurt."
"They came to get story of what had happened."
vies weer *
* dirty weather
Expression used all the time by Everyone
When it is very rainy.
"Ik was van plan een stukje te gaan lopen, maar het is echt vies weer buiten."
"I was planning on taking a walk, but the weather outside is really dirty."
vind je het gek? *
* do you find it crazy?
Standard Phrase used often by most people
Used rhetorically to mean “no wonder” or “does it surprise you?”, expressing that something is unsurprising or understandable given the circumstances.
"Ze vertrouwt hem niet meer." "Vind je het gek, na alles wat er gebeurd is?"
"She doesn’t trust him anymore." "Do you find it crazy, after everything that happened?"
vlees noch vis *
* neither meat nor fish
Expression used here and there by Some People
When something or someone is neither one nor the other, doesn’t belong to anything specific.
“Deze publicatie is vlees nog vis, is het dagboek of een autobiografie? “
"This publication is neither meat nor fish, is it a dairy or an autobiography?"
source
vlieguren *
* flying hours
Word used here and there by some people
Hours of experience.
“Ik hou van schilderen maar ik heb nog niet genoeg vlieguren om het goed te doen.”
“I love painting, but I don’t have enough flying hours to do it well”
voor herhaling vatbaar *
* susceptible to repetition
Expression used often by some people
A way to indicate something is worth doing again. Used often to express something was fun, or successful. You can also say something is "not susceptible to repetition", when it was bad and unsuccessful.
"Heel leuk om samen een keertje te bowlen! Zeker voor herhaling vatbaar."
""It was so much fun to go bowling together! Definitely susceptible to repetition."
ze zien vliegen *
* to see them flying
Expression used here and there by some people
A way to say you are hallucinating or not quite in your right mind.
"Lekker weer in Nederland? Je ziet ze vliegen!"
"Nice weather in the Netherlands? You see them flying!"
zonaanbidder *
* sun worshipper
Word used here and there by some people
Someone who loves being in the sun.
"Mijn moeder is echt een zonaanbidder, zodra er een beetje zon is zit ze alweer buiten."
“My mother is really a sun-worshipper, as soon as there is a little sun she is already sitting outside.”
één pot nat *
* one pot wet
Expression used here and there by some people
It means it's all the same.
"Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, het is allemaal één pot nat"
"Tinder, Bumble, Hinge, it is all one pot wet."