Introduction: Beyond Literal Meaning

Idiomatic expressions (uitdrukkingen) and proverbs (spreekwoorden) are phrases where the meaning is not easily deduced from the literal meaning of the individual words. Understanding and using them is crucial for sounding more natural and fluent in Dutch, as they are frequently used in everyday conversation.

At B1, you should start recognizing and understanding some common idioms and proverbs.

Common Idiomatic Expressions (Uitdrukkingen)

Uitdrukkingen are fixed phrases with a figurative meaning. Their grammatical structure can sometimes change slightly (e.g., verb conjugation).

• Iets onder de knie hebben
• Literal: To have something under the knee.
• Meaning: To have mastered something, to know how to do something well.
• Example: Na veel oefenen heb ik het fietsen eindelijk onder de knie. (After much practice, I finally mastered cycling.)
• De kat uit de boom kijken
• Literal: To watch the cat out of the tree.
• Meaning: To wait and see what happens before acting; to be cautious.
• Example: Laten we eerst de kat uit de boom kijken voordat we een beslissing nemen. (Let's first see how things develop before we make a decision.)
• Met de deur in huis vallen
• Literal: To fall into the house with the door.
• Meaning: To get straight to the point without introduction; to be blunt.
• Example: Sorry dat ik met de deur in huis val, maar ik heb dringend je hulp nodig. (Sorry to get straight to the point, but I urgently need your help.)
• Iemand op de hoogte brengen/houden
• Literal: To bring/keep someone at the height.
• Meaning: To inform someone; to keep someone updated.
• Example: Kun je me op de hoogte houden van de voortgang? (Can you keep me updated on the progress?)
• In de war zijn
• Literal: To be in the tangle/confusion.
• Meaning: To be confused, mixed up, or flustered.
• Example: Door alle veranderingen ben ik een beetje in de war. (Because of all the changes, I am a bit confused.)
• Op eigen benen staan
• Literal: To stand on own legs.
• Meaning: To be independent; to stand on one's own two feet.
• Example: Sinds hij studeert, staat hij op eigen benen. (Since he started studying, he stands on his own two feet.)
• Twee vliegen in één klap slaan
• Literal: To hit two flies in one swat.
• Meaning: To achieve two goals with a single action; to kill two birds with one stone.
• Example: Als ik boodschappen doe op weg naar huis, sla ik twee vliegen in één klap. (If I do groceries on the way home, I kill two birds with one stone.)
• Een oogje in het zeil houden
• Literal: To keep an eyelet in the sail.
• Meaning: To keep an eye on something; to watch over.
• Example: Kun jij een oogje in het zeil houden op de kinderen terwijl ik kook? (Can you keep an eye on the children while I cook?)
• Het hoofd koel houden
• Literal: To keep the head cool.
• Meaning: To stay calm in a difficult situation.
• Example: Probeer het hoofd koel te houden, ook al is het stressvol. (Try to stay calm, even though it's stressful.)

Common Proverbs (Spreekwoorden)

Spreekwoorden are fixed, complete sentences that express a general truth or piece of advice. They are usually used exactly as they are.

• Wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen.
• Literal: Who says A, must also say B.
• Meaning: If you start something, you must finish it or accept the consequences.
• Oost west, thuis best.
• Literal: East west, home best.
• Meaning: There's no place like home.
• Al draagt een aap een gouden ring, het is en blijft een lelijk ding.
• Literal: Even if a monkey wears a golden ring, it is and remains an ugly thing.
• Meaning: You can't change someone's fundamental nature with superficial changes; fine clothes don't make the man.
• Beter één vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht.
• Literal: Better one bird in the hand than ten in the air.
• Meaning: It's better to keep what you have (even if small) than to risk losing it by trying to get something more/better that is uncertain.
• De appel valt niet ver van de boom.
• Literal: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
• Meaning: Children often resemble their parents in character or behavior.
• Na regen komt zonneschijn.
• Literal: After rain comes sunshine.
• Meaning: Things will eventually get better after a period of difficulty.
• Spreken is zilver, zwijgen is goud.
• Literal: Speaking is silver, silence is gold.
• Meaning: Sometimes it's better to say nothing.
• Haastige spoed is zelden goed.
• Literal: Hasty haste is seldom good.
• Meaning: Doing things too quickly often leads to mistakes; haste makes waste.

Learning Idioms and Proverbs

• Context is Key: Try to understand them from the situation in which they are used.
• Don't Translate Literally: The literal meaning often makes no sense.
• Listen and Read: Pay attention to how native speakers use them.
• Use Them (Carefully): Try incorporating simple ones into your own Dutch, but make sure you understand the meaning and context first.
• Ask: If you hear an expression you don't understand, ask a native speaker!

Idioms and proverbs enrich the Dutch language. While you don't need to know hundreds at B1, recognizing common ones like iets onder de knie hebben, de kat uit de boom kijken, na regen komt zonneschijn, and de appel valt niet ver van de boom will significantly improve your comprehension and make your own Dutch sound more natural.