Dutch Idioms That Will Make You Sound Like a Native

Dutch is full of colorful idioms that bring flavor and authenticity to your speech. These phrases often don’t translate literally into English, but they are used daily by native speakers. Understanding and using idiomatic expressions not only improves your listening and speaking skills, but also brings you closer to the heart of Dutch culture.

1. Met de deur in huis vallen – Literally: “To fall with the door into the house.” It means to get straight to the point. This idiom reflects the Dutch preference for directness. Using it shows you’re confident and culturally aware.
   
   
2. Een broodje aap – Literally: “A monkey sandwich.” This quirky phrase is used to describe a false story or urban legend. Understanding these types of idioms helps you interpret Dutch news or casual conversations more effectively.
   
   
3. Iets onder de knie hebben – Literally: “To have something under the knee.” It means you’ve mastered something. It’s commonly used in learning contexts, like mastering grammar or pronunciation in Dutch.
   
   
4. Voor een appel en een ei – Literally: “For an apple and an egg.” It means something is very cheap. You’ll hear it in shopping or bargaining scenarios.
   
   
5. De kogel is door de kerk – Literally: “The bullet is through the church.” It means a difficult decision has finally been made. This idiom is common in business or personal discussions.
   
   

Learning idioms like these adds personality to your speech and helps you understand native speakers more naturally. At DutchProf, we integrate idioms into lessons so students not only learn the language, but also learn to live it.