Standard Phrase USED Frequently BY Everyone
(good busy) • A way of saying "well done" or "good job" or "you are doing well". Alternatively, you'll hear "lekker bezig" with the same meaning, but more often used ironically.
"Ik ben al bijna 10 kilo afgevallen sinds het begin van het jaar." "Goed bezig!"
"I've nearly lost 10 kilo's since the beginning of the year." "Good busy!"
van een koude kermis thuiskomen
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(to come home from a cold fair) • A rude awakening. It means that something goes wrong against expectations, or goes bad, or does not happen. It could also mean that you expected to receive a warm welcome somewhere but instead experienced anger and blame.
"Emma dacht dat ze voor haar verjaardag een puppy zou krijgen, maar ze moest van een koude kermis thuiskomen."
"Emma thoughts she was going to get a puppy for her birthday, but she had to come home from a cold fair."
Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(n.) • (donkey bridge) • A trick to help you remember something. A mnemonic device.
"Zonder ezelsbruggetje als "t kofschip" kan ik echt niet onthouden welk voltooid deelwoord een 'd' of een 't' heeft."
"Without a donkey bridge like "t kofschip" I really can't remember which past participle has a 'd' or a 't'."
wie mooi wil gaan moet pijn lijden
Expression USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People
(who wants to be beautiful must suffer pain) • To be beautiful one must make sacrifices. Frequently said by grandmothers while aggressively brushing your hair.
"Deze hakken doen echt pijn." "Tsja, wie mooi wil gaan moet pijn lijden."
"These heels really hurt." "Oh well, who wants to be beautiful must suffer pain"
Expression USED Very frequently BY Everyone
(for the same money) • When a different outcome would have been just as likely.
"We hadden er gelukkig lekker weer bij, maar voor hetzelfde geld had het geregend op onze trouwdag."
"Luckily we had good weather, but for the same money it would have rained on our wedding day."
alsof er een engeltje over je tong piest
Idiom USED On Occasion BY Dutchies
(like an angel is peeing on your tongue) • Used to describe how delicious your food is.
"De stroopwafel smaakt alsof er een engeltje over je tong piest"
"The Stroopwafel tastes as if an angel is peeing on your tongue."
Abbreviation USED On Occasion BY students
(n.) • Short for "quarantaineborrel" (quarantine drinks).
"Heb je plannen voor vanavond?" "Ja, ik heb vanavond quabo."
"Do you have plans for tonight?" "Yes, tonight I have quabo."
Abbreviation USED On Rare Occasion BY Students
(n.) • Short for "locatie" (location) and used to refer to the "share your location" function on WhatsApp.
"Stuur me even je loca."
"Send me your loca."
Abbreviation USED On Occasion BY Students
(n.) • (little vvv) • Stands for "vriend(en) van vroeger" (friend from the past)
"Hoe was het feestje?" "Ja leuk, veel vvv'tjes"
"How was the party?" "Fun, loads of little vvv's"
als donderslag bij heldere hemel
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(like thunderstrike with clear sky) • Something completely unexpected.
"Het nieuws kwam als donderslag bij heldere hemel."
"The news came like thunderstrike with clear sky."
Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(noun) • Gaining weight because you had to work from home and stay home more often due government rules to prevent spreading of the coronavirus.
"De laatste drie maanden heb ik er een paar Coronakilo’s bij."
"The last three months I gained three coronakilos."
Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(n.) • (cough shame) • Being afraid to cough in public because of Corona.
"Ik heb hoestschaamte als ik in de supermarkt loop."
"I have a coughing shame when I am at the supermarket."
Word USED Very frequently BY Politicians and citizens
(n.) • (otherhalfmetersociety) • It literally translates to ‘one and a half meter society’. It means the new standards of living due the corona virus.
"Ik kan niet wennen aan de anderhalvemetersamenleving."
"I can’t get used to the one and a half meter society."
Submitted October 2020 by lbierthe
Reference USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(n.) • (one and a half meter society) • A reference to a society that needs to keep 1,5 meter distance from each other. Term used to refer to our 'new normal'.
"We leven nu in een anderhalvemetersamenleving door Corona."
"We live now in a one and a half meter society because of Corona."
Submitted October 2020 by loaa
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(point out) • To say explicitly that this is the end of a discussion, or this is how it's done.
"Ik had je al eerder gezegd, je krijgt nu geen koekje, punt uit."
"I told you before, you are not getting a biscuit, point out."
Expression USED On Occasion BY Some People
(we from toilet-duck) • A phrase originating from a 1989 commercial for a brand of toilet cleaners called WC-eend (toilet-duck). In the commercial, you can hear the phrase "wij van WC-eend adviseren WC-eend" (we from toilet-duck advice toilet-duck). The phrase has since become synonymous with promoting your own interest by pretending to give advice or information.
"Het lijkt erop dat alle politieke partijen tegenwoordig hun eigen journaal hebben, maar het is vooral veel "wij van WC-eend"."
"It seems all political parties have their own news broadcast these days, but it's mostly "we of toilet-duck"."
Submitted October 2020 by amarens
Expression USED On Occasion BY Everybody
( you better roll op your sleeves) • This is said before a difficult or hard task as a way of saying "get ready" or "be prepared".
"Stroop je mouwen maar op voordat je daar aan begint"
"You better roll up your sleeves before you start that."
Submitted October 2020 by PetraB
Expression USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People
(goodbye umbrella) • Way of saying goodbye in a rhyming way. It was popularized in the 20th century by TV presenter Peter Knegjens, and although widely known it isn't used very often.
"Ik ga nu, aju paraplu!"
"I am going now, bye umbrella!"
Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone
(n.) • (shieldtoad) • This is the word for "turtle".
"Mijn zusje heeft een mooie schilpad. Hij heet Padje P."
"My little sister has got a beautiful shieldtoad. His name is Padje P."
Expression USED On Occasion BY male students, men, everyone
(interj.) • (get tits now) • Expression of surprise, sort of like the English OMG.
"Vliegende man in een jetpack gezien door piloten in Amerika? Krijg nou tieten; dat kan niet, joh."
"Man flying using a jet pack seen by American pilots? Grow some tits; that's impossible, man!"
