Author Archives: Marc

Zetten

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to put, to place, to set [verb] [zette, gezet] Iconspeaker_3

"Zetten" is a versatile word. We’ve given three possible translations. There are more translations that you can use though, depending on context. A variety is covered in the Examples. The related noun is "zet", which translates to "move", see the Related words.

Don’t confuse "zetten" with "zitten", which translates to "to sit".Bloemen_op_tafel

Examples:
-"Liefie, kun je de bloemen op tafel zetten?" 
("Sweetie, can you put the flowers on the table?")

– "Waar heb je mijn fiets gezet?" – "Daar…tegen die boom."
("Where did you put my bike?" – "There…against that tree.")

– "U kunt hier uw handtekening zetten.")
("You can place your signature here.")

– "Zet de wekker maar op half acht, dan kunnen we relaxed ontbijten."
("Just set the alarm clock for seven thirty, then we’ll be able to have a relaxed breakfast.")

– "Zal ik koffie zetten? Of heb je liever thee?"
("Shall I make coffee? Or would you rather have tea?")

– "Zoveel honger in de wereld… dat zet je aan het denken, toch?"
("So much starvation in the world…it makes you think, right?" Lit.: "…it puts you to think…")

– "Heb je het al gehoord? Franks vriendin heeft een aarsgewei laten zetten!!" 
("Have you heard already?? Frank’s girlfriend has gotten an ass cap!!" Lit.: …has let (the tattooguy [impl.]) put an ass cap (on her [impl.])…")

Expressions:
– "Iemand een hak zetten": to put a spoke in someone’s wheel. Lit.: to place someone a cut.

Example:
– "Kabelbedrijven zetten KPN een hak met snel internet."
("Cable companies put a spoke in KPN’s wheel with fast internet." Note: KPN is the former national incumbent Dutch telecommunication company. It used to be owned by the state, privatized since 1989.)

– "De/Je hakken in het zand zetten": to put up (a) resistance. Lit.: to put the/your heels in the sand. See also Schoen.
– "De bloemetjes buiten zetten": to party, to go wild. Lit.: to put the flowers outside.
– "Te kakken zetten": (informal) to ridicule, to mock. Lit.: to set to poop.

Related words:
– Zitten: to sit [verb] [zat, gezeten].
– Zet: move [noun] [de zet, de zetten].

Example:
– "Dat was een meesterlijke zet van zwart…wit staat schaakmat."
("That was a masterly move by black…white stands checkmate.")

– Gezet: corpulent, stout [adjective].
– "Ontzet": aghast, dismayed at/by [adjective]. Lit. displaced.

Matsen

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to give someone a break, to do someone a favour [verb] [matste, gematst] Iconspeaker_klein

“Matsen” is Bargoens, the former Dutch thieves’ cant. Whether “matsen” is also from Yiddish origin – like “gozer” – was unknown at the time of publication of this DWOTD…readers are kindly requested to post ethymological information 🙂Matsen

“Matsen” is used informally, and originally meant to cheat or to mess with. It is now used in a more positive sense: to settle/arrange something for someone outside the ‘normal’ path via which things should be arranged, see the Examples.

Examples:
– “Gozer, ik krijg nog 57 euro van je, maar ik zal je matsen: 50 is prima.”
(“Dude, you still owe me 57 euros, but I’ll give you a break: 50 is fine.”)

– “Hoe kan die loser de finale van Dancing With The Stars bereikt hebben?? De jury heeft hem ongelofelijk gematst!”
(“How could this loser reach the final of Dancing With The Stars?? The jury has given him a huge break!”)

– “<agent:> Ik moet u helaas een bekeuring geven. U reed te hard.” – “<overtreder:> Ach, kunt u me niet voor één keer matsen?”
(“<officer:> I’m afraid I’m gonna have to give you a ticket. You were speeding.” – “<perpetrator:> Ah, can’t you just give me a break just once?”)

Expressions:
– “Door de vingers zien.” See also Extra.
(“To give someone a break”.)

– “Een oogje dichtknijpen.”
(“To turn a blind eye to someone/something”.)

Related words:
– “Geluk”: luck.
– “Mazzel”: luck.
– “Voortrekken”: to favour.

Dat zit zo

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It’s like this [Dutch phrase of the week] Iconspeaker_kleinDat_zit_zo

"Dat zit zo" is literally translated with "That sits like this", which does not really make a lot of sense 🙂 In Dutch however, it is a common expression for an introduction to a narrative explanation. You may also see the alternative "het zit zo".

"Dat zit zo" can be used after the question "hoe zit dat?" or "hoe zit het met […]?", resp. translating to "how is that?" and "what’s the deal on […]?" See the Examples.

Examples:
– "Hoe zit dat?" – "Dat zit zo:"
("How is that?" – "It’s like this:")

– "Hoe zit het met de reiskostenvergoeding bij dit bedrijf?" – "Dat zit zo:"
("What’s the deal on this company’s compensation of travel expenses?" – "It’s like this:"

– "Hoe zit het met dat gedoe tussen jou en Frank?" – "Nou, dat zit zo…"
– "What’s up with the fuss between you and Frank?" – Well, it’s like this…"

– "Makker, kijk jij naar mijn vriendin? Hoe zit dat??" – "Dat zie je verkeerd. Het zit zo…"
("Dude, are you checking out my girlfriend? What’s up with that??" – "You got it wrong. It’s like this…")

Vanzelfsprekend

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self-evident, evidently, naturally [adjective/adverb] Iconspeaker_klein

Just a short DWOTD today, but you can use it to show your sophistication when impressing someone, e.g. your Dutch boss or manager 🙂

The use of "vanzelfsprekend" is quite formal. Less formal are the (more or less) synonomous "natuurlijk" (naturally), "okee" (okay) and "uiteraard" (naturally).

Examples:
– "Het is vanzelfsprekend dat men oudere mensen met ‘u’ aanspreekt."
("It is self-evident that one addresses elderly people with ‘u’.")

– "Tegenwoordig is veiligheid op straat niet meer vanzelfsprekend, vriend."
("Nowadays, you can’t take safety in the streets for granted anymore, pal.")

– "Pardon, kunt u mijn koffers naar mijn kamer laten brengen?" – "Vanzelfsprekend mijnheer."
("Pardon, can you have my suitcases brought to my room?" – "Naturally, sir.")

– "Frank, ik wil dat rapport vandaag nog op mijn buro!" – "Vanzelfsprekend baas…"
("Frank, I want that report on my desk today!" – "That goes without saying boss…"

Related words:
– "Vanzelfsprekendheid": matter of course [noun] [de vanzelfsprekendheid, de vanzelfsprekendheden].
– "Uiteraard": naturally [adverb].
– "Logisch": logical. [adjective]

Hoteldebotel

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swept off one’s feet, smitten with, enamored of [adjective]   
Speaker

"Hoteldebotel" has nothing to do with a hotel 🙂 It is used to describe your thoughts being confused,
mostly by the fact that you’re in love…
Sometimes it is used to refer to a more general discombobulated state, see the last example.Hoteldebotel

Examples:
– "Luc is helemaal hoteldebotel…" – "Echt?? Van wie?" – "Van Mélanie!"
("Luc is completely swept of his feet…" – "Really?? By whom?" – "By Mélanie!")

– "Scheetje, wat ben je toch een lekker ding! Ik ben helemaal hoteldebotel van je…"
("Baby, you’re such a hottie! You’ve totally swept me of my feet…"

– "Kent is hoteldebotel van Lara. En zij is hoteldebotel van hem!"
("Kent is smitten with Lara. And she’s enamored of him!")

– "Al die auto’s in Lima…ik werd er helemaal hoteldebotel van…"
("All those cars in Lima…they drove me totally crazy…")

Expressions:
– "Hij/zij is helemaal in de wolken."
("His/her head is the clouds.")

Related words:
– "Tureluurs": totally confused/disoriented, crazy.
– "Verliefd": in love.