Author Archives: Dutch Gurus

Aan de lopende band

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constantly, all the time [Dutch phrase of the week] Iconspeaker_klein

Literally translated, a "lopende band" would be something like a "running belt". Actually, "lopende band" is the translation for "conveyor belt" (as part of an assembly line in a factory). The expression "aan de lopende band" is used to refer to the continuous or repetitive nature of a certain event or activity.
In the case of a continuous activity "aan de lopende band" is synonymous to "de hele tijd", which is the literal translation of "all the time", see the Examples.

Examples:
– "Tijdens de vergadering moest Frank aan de lopende band hoesten."
("During the meeting, Frank had to cough constantly.")

– "Het kan toch niet zo zijn dat jij me aan de lopende band beledigt, en dat ik mijn mond moet houden!"
("It can’t possibly be the case that you insult me all the time, and that I have to keep my mouth shut!")

– "Schat, je zit aan de lopende band in je neus te peuteren." – "Moet jij nodig zeggen!"
("Honey, you’re picking your nose all the time." – "Look who’s talking!" Note that the typical
Dutch construction for continuous activities is used here: [subject]  + [conjugation
of verbs suchs as "lopen" / "zitten" / "staan" / "hangen"]  + ["te"] +
[infinitive].)

– "Die man met dat blotebillengezicht zit de hele tijd naar me te gluren…wat een engerd!"
("That man with the pudding-face is peeping at me all the time…what a creep!" In Dutch, "scary" or "spooky" is translated with "eng".)

Related words:
– "Lopen": to walk, to run.
– "Band": band, belt, strip, tire.

Solliciteren

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to apply for (a job), to put in an application [verb] [solliciteerde, gesolliciteerd] [‘so-lie-cie-tee-run’] Iconspeaker_3

Mind that this verb is both used for the process of putting in applications, writing the letters etc., and having the job interview itself.
You can also use "solliciteren naar" if you want to mention the job or position, or jestingly in the meaning of "asking/looking for" trouble or something else unpleasant; see the examples.

Examples:
– "Zo, jij ziet er netjes uit vandaag!" – "Dankjewel, ik ga solliciteren vanmiddag".
("My, you look smart today!" – "Thanks, I have a job interview this afternoon." You can also say "net" instead of "netjes".)

– "Ik ben het solliciteren zat, ik wil gewoon een baan!"
("I’m tired of putting in applications, I just want a job!")

– "Je kunt in Nederland niet zomaar een uitkering trekken, je moet wel solliciteren!"
("You can’t just live on social security in the Netherlands, you have to apply for a job!" Note the expression "een uitkering trekken", this is a bit derogatory and implies just taking advantage.)

– "Het is met veel plezier dat ik solliciteer naar de functie van algemeen medewerker…"
("It’s with great pleasure that I apply for the position of general employee…")

– "Met dit soort gedrag solliciteert Frank echt naar een pak slaag".
("With this kind of behaviour, Frank is really asking for a good hiding." Literally: … a pack of beating.)

Related words:
– "Vacature": job opening, position.
– "Sollicitatie": application.
– "Open sollicitatie": unsolicited application.
– "Sollicitatiebrief": application letter.
– "Sollicitatiegesprek": job interview.
– "Baan": job.
– "Assessment": assessment.

Extra:
There is a well-known song from the eighties that is still frequently played on the radio, called "Sollicitere" by the band  "Janse Bagge Bend" from the Dutch province of Limburg. The missing ‘n’ in ‘sollicitere’ is not a mistake; the song is in dialect. These are the lyrics and see how much you understand from the video! Other bands from Limburg that sing in dialect have succeeded in reaching a wider Dutch audience, for example "Rowwen Hèze".

Verdwalen

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to lose one’s/the way, to get lost [verb] [verdwaalde, verdwaald] [‘ver-dwaa-lun’] Iconspeaker_3

"Verdwalen" is also sometimes used for appearing in an unexpected location, see the examples.

Examples:
– "Waar is het kompas? Volgens mij zijn we verdwaald…"
("Where is the compass? I think we’re lost…")

– "Meneer, kunt u ons zeggen hoe deze straat heet? We zijn een beetje verdwaald."
("Sir, can you tell us the name of this street? We kind of lost the way.")

– "Ik ben heel slecht in kaartlezen, maar ik heb een TomTom gekocht en nu verdwaal ik vast niet meer."
("I’m very bad at reading maps, but I’ve bought a TomTom and surely I will not get lost anymore.")

– "Hé, hoe komt die CD hier verdwaald?"
("Hey, how did that CD get/land here?")

Related words:
– "De weg kwijtraken": to lose the way.
– "Zoeken": to search, to look for.
– "Naar de weg vragen": to ask for directions (lit. "to ask for the way").

Fris

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1. soft drink(s) [noun] [de/het fris, <no plural>] [‘fris‘] Iconspeaker_klein

Although "fris" is a noun, it is hardly ever used with its definite article (which – according to the dictionary – can be "de" or "het"). In this context, "fris" is short for "frisdrank", literally: "fresh drink". "Fris" is used for one (glass of) soft drink or soft drinks as a collective term.

Examples:
– "In Nederlandse supermarkten mag geen sterke drank verkocht worden, alleen bier, wijn en fris."
("In Dutch supermarkets the selling of spirits is prohibited, only beer, wine and soft drinks.")

– "Ik heb nog een enorme kater van het feestje van gisteren, ik drink vanavond alleen maar fris."
("I still have a huge hangover from yesterday’s party, I’ll just stick to soft drinks tonight." Lit.: "I’ll only drink soft drinks tonight.")

– "Doen we nog een afzakkertje?" – "Doe mij maar een frisje."
("Shall we have one for the road?" – "I’ll just have a soft drink." Instead of
"een frisje" you can also say "iets fris".)

Expression:
– "’ ‘s Avonds een vent, ‘s ochtend een vent!": Lit.: If you’re a man in the evening, you should be a man in the morning, which means something like: don’t go complaining about your hangover if you had a good time last night 🙂

Related words:
– "Kater": hangover.
– "Rietje": straw.
– "Bier": beer.
– "Wijn": wine.
– "Afzakkertje": one for the road, night cap.

2. fresh, refreshing, fit, clean, bright, chilly [adjective] [‘fris‘] Iconspeaker_klein_2

In this context, "fresh" is used to describe the fresh or cool state of a substance, person or object.

Examples:
– "Frank zag er vanochtend niet erg fris uit."
("Frank didn’t look very fit this morning.")

– "Zo! De keuken ziet er weer fris en schoon uit!"
("There! The kitchen looks bright and clean again!")

– "Vond jij het ook een beetje fris vanochtend?" – "Man! Ik moest het ijs van mijn auto krabben!"
("Did you also think it was a bit chilly this morning?" – "Man! I had to scrape the ice off my car.")

Expression:
– "April doet wat-ie wil": April is the cruellest month.

Related word:
– "Vers": Fresh.