Category Archives: Dutch phrase of the week

Tot overmaat van ramp

Posted on by

to make matters worse, on top of everything 
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[tot over-maat van ramp]

Tot_overmaat_van_ramp A "ramp" is a disaster in Dutch, and the noun "overmaat" means 'excess'. This phrase says that something is 'in excess of the disaster at hand'. Not always there has to be a real disaster, it can also pertain to general inconvenience.

Examples:
– "Afgelopen zondag had ik vertraging met de trein en tot overmaat van ramp vielen de metro's ook uit!" 
("Last Sunday I was delayed while travelling by train and to make matters worse the subway/metro/tube (service) was also cancelled.")

– "Tot overmaat van ramp werd bij 2-0 achterstand de sterspeler uit het veld gestuurd." 
("To make matters worse the top player was sent off (the pitch) while still 2-0 behind.")

– "Tot overmaat van ramp is er in de reeds instabiele regio een nieuw conflict ontstaan." 
("To make matters worse a new conflict arose in the already unstable region.")

– "Tot overmaat van ramp komen niet alleen mijn ouders maar ook mijn schoonouders op bezoek; dat wordt wat!" 
("On top of everything not only my parents will visit (us) but also my in-laws; we are in for a treat!")

– "De Japanners hadden de kernramp nog nauwelijks onder controle of er vond, tot overmaat van ramp, al weer een nieuwe aardbeving plaats." 
("The Japanese hardly had the nuclear disaster under control when, to make matters worse, a new earthquake occurred.")

Related words:
– Verergeren: to worsen, to become worse, to deteriorate [verb] [verergerde, verergerd].

Iets in die trant

Posted on by

something of the kind/sort, something like that 
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[iets in die trant]

apple-ipad-551502_640The noun “trant” means ‘style, manner, fashion’ but you will seldomly use it independently. In addition to the phrase “iets in die trant” you will also encounter ‘trant’ in the construction “iets in de trant van”: ‘something similar to’, see below for two additional examples.

Examples:
– “Zei hij nou dat hij onze eisen naast zich neerlegt?”- “Ja, iets in die trant, belachelijk!” 
(“Did he say that he is ignoring our requirements?” – “Yes, something of the kind, ridiculous!” The use of the word “nou” indicates astonishment. The expression “iets naast zich neerleggen” literally means “to put/lay something next to oneself”.)

– “De buurjongen werkt in een restaurant als afruimer of iets in die trant.” 
(“The boy next door works in a restaurant clearing tables or something of the kind.” Lit.: “… works as table clearer… “.)

– “Ben je bij haar thuis geweest? Hoe was het interieur, klassiek?” – “Niet specifiek klassiek, maar wel iets in die trant. In ieder geval lelijk!” 
(“Have you been at to her home? What was the interior (design), classical?” – “Not classical specifically, but something like that. In any case: ugly!”)

– “Kan ik u helpen?” – “Ja, ik zoek iets in de trant van een iPad, maar dan goedkoper.” 
(“Can I help you?” – “Yes, I’m looking for something like an iPad, but then cheaper.”)

– “Ze riep iets in de trant van ‘ik wil je nooit meer zien’, maar ja, dat gelooft natuurlijk niemand!” 
(“She shouted ‘I never want to see you again’ or something to that effect, but hey, who’s going to believe that!” Lit. “… that obviously no one will believe!”).

Related words:
– Trant: style, manner, fashion [noun] [de trant, <no plural>].
– Manier: way, manner, mode [noun] [de manier, de manieren].

Dat is (nog) toekomstmuziek

Posted on by

That is still in the future Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]

Another Dutch phrase to impress your friends and colleagues with: "dat is (nog) toekomstmuziek", Sunseeker 2 meaning that something is not (yet) possible. Its literal meaning is: "that is future music for the time being". You can guess that the phrase relates to something positive that might happen in the future, rather than pointing to negative future occurences. 

Examples:
– "Rond de wereld vliegen op zonne-energie? Dat is voorlopig nog toekomstmuziek." 
("Flying around the world on solar energy? That is not possible for the time being.")

– "Kun je de iPhone 4 opladen met waterstof of is dat nog toekomstmuziek?" 
("Is it possible to charge the iPhone 4 with hydrogen or is that still in the future?")

– "Ik heb in de wandelgangen gehoord dat het bedrijf weer in de zwarte cijfers zit. Klopt dat of is dat nog toekomstmuziek?" 
("I informally heard that the company is making a profit again. Is that true or is that still in the future?")

– "Wanneer studeer je nou eindelijk eens af?" – "Nou, voorlopig is dat helaas nog toekomstmuziek." 
("When are you finally going to graduate?"- "Well, unfortunately that will take some more time.")

Expressions:
– Dat klinkt me als muziek in de oren: it/that's music to my ears, I totally agree with that [literally: "that sounds like music in my ears"].

Example:
– "Een paar weken vrij? Dat klinkt me als muziek in de oren!"
("A couple of weeks off? That sounds great!")

Related words:
– Toekomst: future [noun] [de toekomst, <no plural>].
– Muziek: music [noun] [de muziek, <no plural>].

Iets in de wandelgang(en) horen

Posted on by

to hear something through the grapevine, to hear informally Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week] 

"Wandelgang" is composed of "wandel" and "gang", which respectively translate to "walk/stroll" and "hallway/corridor". As an expression, "iets in de wandelgangen horen" is used in a situation where information is informally acquired.

Examples:Marvin gaye
– "Ik hoorde in de wandelgangen dat je niet veel langer de mijne zou zijn…" 
("I heard it through the grapevine, not much longer you would be mine…")

– "Ik hoorde in de wandelgangen dat Frank zijn baan zal verliezen." 
("I heard it through the grapevine that Frank will lose his job.")

– "Ik heb veel gelobbyd via mijn informele netwerken, nu hoor ik in de wandelgangen dat mijn advies door het management zal worden gevolgd." 
("I've lobbied a great deal via my informal networks, now I hear it through the grapevine that my advice will be followed by the management.")

Expressions:
– "Tussen neus en lippen door": informally.

Example:
– "Ik begreep tussen neus en lippen door dat Daniel achterdochtig had gereageerd. Klopt dat?"
("I understood informally that Daniel had reacted with suspicion. Is that right?")

– "Tussen de regels door": between the lines.
– "Van horen zeggen": hear say.

Related words:
– Gang: hallway, corridor [noun] [de gang, de gangen].
– Gerucht: rumour [noun] [het gerucht, de geruchten].

Example:
– "Het gerucht doet de ronde dat…"
("Rumour has it that…")

– Wandelen: to walk, to stroll [verb] [wandelen, wandelde, h. gewandeld].

Praat me er niet van!

Posted on by

enough of that, talk to tell me about it, don't get me started Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[praat me er niet van]

PraatMeErNietVan "Praat me er niet van" literally translates to "don't talk to me of that". You can use it to acknowledge that you recognize what the other is saying because you experienced it yourself (usually something tedious or annoying), or to express your own discontent about something.

Examples:
– "Ik moet tegenwoordig in pak naar het werk. Nu moet ik elke dag een overhemd strijken!" – "Man, praat me er niet van, ik heb besloten dat uit te besteden, dat scheelt een hoop tijd!" 
("These days I have to wear a suit to work. Now I have to iron a shirt every day!" – "Man… enough of that, I've decided to outsource it, that saves me a lot of time!")

– "Ik ga elke dag met de auto naar het werk, maar dat schiet totaal niet op." – "Ach, praat me er niet van, in Den Haag sta je voor elk stoplicht stil!" 
("Every day I go to work by car, but it's hopeless really." – "Pff, don't get me started, in The Hague you have to stop at each traffic light." Lit. "you stand still in front of each stop light".)

– "Mannen? Praat me er niet van!" 
("Men? Enough of them!")

– "Een hond als huisdier? Praat me er niet van… Elke dag moet je hem uitlaten en als je op vakantie gaat is het ook gedoe!" 
("A dog for a pet? Tell me about it… You have to walk it every day and when you go on holiday it's always a fuss!")

Related words:
– Praten: to talk/speak [verb] [praatte, gepraat].
– Praat: talk [noun] [de praat, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Ik ben zaterdag met Abby aan de praat geraakt, echt te gek, we hebben de hele avond gesproken!" – "Mafkees! Dat is de vriendin van Tex!"
("Saturday I got into conversation with Abby, that was awesome, we talked all evening!" – "Fool! That's Tex's girlfriend!")