Dutch Netherlands

geleefd worden

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Busy people

(v.) • (to be lived ) • When you are so busy you don’t have time to make your own decisions or do stuff for yourself

“Tijdens de exams week wordt je wel echt geleefd”

“During exam week you are really being lived”

syn

Dutch Netherlands

koekje van eigen deeg

Expression USED On Occasion BY most people

(cookie of own dough) • To give someone a taste of their own medicine - to do the same harmful or unpleasant thing that one has inflicted on others or to attack in the same manner in which one attacks others.

"Nadat we vorig jaar de wedstrijd 6-0 verloren hadden, hebben we ze dit jaar een koekje van eigen deeg gegeven."

"After losing the game 6-0 last year, this year we gave them a cookie of their own dough."

Dutch Netherlands

voor hetere vuren gestaan hebben

Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some people

(to have stood in front of hotter fires) • Used when you have been through worse or faced bigger problems in the past.

"Denk je dat je die hele pizza op kunt?" "Ja hoor, ik heb voor hetere vuren gestaan"

"Do you think you can finish the entire pizza?" "Sure, I have stood in front of hotter fires"

Dutch Netherlands

moet kunnen

Standard Phrase USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(must can) • Something that should not be an issue or should be allowed. The verb “kunnen” (to can) in Dutch refers to a more broader sense of something being possible or allowed.

“Een lekker wijntje na een dag werk moet kunnen, toch?”

“A tasty wine after a long day of work must can, right?”

Confirmed by 5 people

Dutch | Flemish Flanders, Belgium

te veel van het goede

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(too much of the good) • When there’s such an excessive amount of something you normally like, it’s no longer enjoyable.

"Chocomelk én brownies, da’s te veel van het goede."

"Chocolate milk AND brownies, that’s too much of the good."

Confirmed by 5 people

Dutch Netherlands

nieuwsgierig Aagje

Reference USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(curious Aagje) • It refers to a person who is very curious or nosy. Aagje is a fairly old-fashioned girls' name in the Netherlands.

"Mijn moeder heeft weer zitten rondneuzen. Wat is ze toch een nieuwsgierig aagje."

"My mom went through my stuff again. She is such a curious aagje."

Confirmed by 2 people

Dutch Netherlands

Gaan met die banaan!

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(Go with that banana!) • It is used to encourage or motivate someone. In English it would be something like: 'go for it' or 'come on'.

“Ik twijfel of ik wel naar die date wil gaan.” “Maak je een grapje? Het wordt vast super leuk. En nou gaan met die banaan!”

"I'm not sure I want to go on that date." "Are you joking? It will be great fun. And now go with that banana! ”

Confirmed by 3 people

syn

Dutch Various countries

Het is niet zo mijn ding

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(It is not so my thing) • It's not my cup of tea, I don't really like it.

"Voetbal is niet zo mijn ding."

"Football isn't really my thing."

syn

Dutch | Aalst Belgium

het leven is een soep

Idiom USED On Rare Occasion BY Older Generations

(life is a soup) • Life is not easy.

"Het leven is een soep, al die miserie toch."

"Life is a soup, all these troubles."

Confirmed by 4 people