Category Archives: Dutch phrase of the week

Kom op zeg!

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come on! Click to listen
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[kom op zeg!]

Komopzeg Just as the English 'come on', there are two ways one can use the phrase "kom op". With the emphasis on 'kom' it can be used to encourage somebody. When the emphasis is on 'op' it can be used to show indignation/disagreement in the way shown in the examples below. It is common to add 'zeg': kom op zeg!

Examples:
– "Kom op zeg, dit kun je niet menen!" 
("Come on, you can't be serious!" Often you will also hear 'dit/dat meen je niet!')

– "Kom op zeg, dat is geen voetbal meer, dat lijkt meer op kickboksen!" 
("Come on, that's not football/soccer anymore, that's more like kickboxing!')

– "En dan zegt hij tegen mij dat ik degene ben die niet luistert; kom op zeg!" 
("And then the tells me that I'm the one who does not listen, come on!!")

– "Kom op zeg, doe even normaal, het is nergens voor nodig om iemand zo uit te foeteren." 
("Come on, get yourself together, it is completely unnecessary to tell somebody off like that.")

– "Nee, dat doe ik niet. Kom op zeg, het is jouw schuld dat we in deze situatie terecht zijn gekomen!" 
("No, I won't do that. Come on, it is your fault that we ended up in this situation!")

– "Ik kan me best voorstellen dat het moeilijk is, maar kom op zeg, met klagen alleen bereik je niks!" 
("I can well imagine that is must be difficult, but come on, you will not get anywhere by just complaining." The verb 'bereiken' is both used for reaching a destination and achieving a goal.)

Related words:
– Verontwaardiging: indignation [noun] [de verontwaardiging, <no plural>].
– Verbazing: surprise, amazement, astonishment [noun] [de verbazing, <no plural>].
– Hoofdschudden: shaking of the head [noun] [het hoofdschudden, <no plural>].

Over de vloer hebben/komen

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to have (regular) visitors / to be a (regular) visitor Click to listen 
[Dutch phrase of the week]

Twoandahalfmen

"Over de vloer hebben/komen" literally translates to "to have/come over the floor". It is used when people visit your place (frequently). 

Examples:
– "Als Frank over de vloer komt, is er niks dan trammelant." 
("When Frank is visiting, there's nothing but trouble.")

– "Ga je mee naar het strand?" – "Nee, ik heb mensen over de vloer." 
("Do you want to go to the beach (with me/us)?" – "No, I have people visiting." Lit.: "Do you go along to the beach?")

– "Peter en Wendy hebben altijd mensen over de vloer." – "Vermoeiend…" 
("Peter and Wendy always have people visiting their place." – "Tiring…")

– "Rosalie en Pascal zijn geweldige mensen! Ik kom daar graag over de vloer!"
("Rosalie and Pascal are wonderful people! I love to go there regularly!")

Expressions:
– "Met de deur in huis vallen": to get down to business at once, to come straight to the point.

Example:
– "Om met de deur in huis te vallen: dat naveltruitje kan echt niet."
("To come straight to the point: that crop top is a no go.")

Related words:
– Komen: to come [verb] [komen, kwam, is/zijn gekomen].
– Over: over [preposition/adverb].

Example:
– "Ziet Frank die scharrel nog?" – "Nee, het is over en uit."
("Is Frank still seeing that flirt?" – "No, it's over and out.")

– Vloer: floor [noun] [de vloer, de vloeren].

Example:
– "De nieuwe keukenvloer is verschrikkelijk lelijk…"
("The new kitchen floor is terribly ugly…")

Graag gedaan

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you’re welcome Click to listen
Graag gedaan
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[graag ge-daan]

“Graag gedaan” is composed of “graag” en “gedaan”, which respectively translate to “gladly” and “done”: gladly done. This phrase is used to reply to a to a “Dankjewel / dankuwel” (thank you). A common English translation for “graag gedaan” would be “you’re welcome“.

Examples:
– “Dankjewel voor je steun.” – “Graag gedaan.” 
(“Thank you for your support.” – “You’re welcome.”)

– “Heb jij ons prieeltje geverfd? Erg mooi!” – “Graag gedaan, schat.” 
(“Did you paint our gazebo? Really beautiful!” – “You’re welcome, dear.”)

– “Bedankt voor je snelle antwoord.” – “Graag gedaan.” 
(“Thanks for your quick reply. ” – “You’re welcome.”)

Expressions:
– “Geen dank”: no need to thank me, you’re welcome, don’t mention it. Lit.: no thanks (needed).

Example:
– “Mag ik je auto vandaag lenen?” – “Vanzelfsprekend.” – “Super, dankjewel!” – “Geen dank.”
(“Can I borrow your car today?” – “Naturally.” – “Great, thanks!” – “Don’t mention it.”)

Related words:
– Doen: to do [verb] [doen, deed, h. gedaan].
– Graag: please, gladly, with pleasure, eager, willingly [adverb].

Example:
– “Kan ik uw bestelling opnemen?” – “Ja, twee fluitjes graag.”
(“Can I
take your order?” – “Yes, two beers please.”)

Het is een bittere pil…

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It is a bitter pill to swallow… Click to listen
[Dutch phrase of the week]

Redpill_bluepill A lot of phrases to choose from today after yesterday’s loss… however, an unpleasant (to some: disastrous) fact that must be accepted. We had our hopes up and as a result the pill is bitter 🙂

You can also include for whom the pill is bitter, see the examples, however we never include ‘slikken’ (‘to swallow’).

Examples:
– “We hadden er zo op gehoopt, maar het heeft niet zo mogen zijn; het is een bittere pil…” 
(“We really had our hopes up but it wasn’t meant to be; a bitter pill to swallow…”)

– “Toen zij hoorde dat haar grote liefde met een ander trouwde was dat een bittere pil voor haar.” 
(“When she heard that her great love married somebody else, it was a bitter pill for her to swallow.”)

– “Hoe voel je je na gisteravond?” – “Wat zal ik zeggen, een bittere pil jongen, ik ben erg teleurgesteld!” 
(“So how do you feel after last night?”- “What can I say, a bitter pill to swallow man, I am really disappointed.”)

– “Het verlies tegen Spanje is een bittere pil voor alle Oranjesupporters.” 
(“The loss against Spain is a bitter pill to swallow for all supporters of ‘Oranje’.”)

– “Heb je voor mij een biertje?” – “Man, het is half tien ‘s ochtends!” – “Ik weet het, maar ik moet even die bittere pil wegspoelen!” 
(“Do you have a beer for me?” – “Dude/mate, it is half past nine in the morning!” – “I know, but I need to wash down that bitter pill!”)

Expressions:
– “Terug naar de orde van de dag!”: back to the order of the day!
– “Er kan er maar één de winnaar zijn!”: there can only be one winner!
– “Ah joh, het is maar een spelletje!”: hey, it is just a game!
– “Je kan niet alles hebben!”: you can’t have it all!
– “Volgende keer beter!”: better luck next time! Lit. ‘next time better!’.

Related words:
– Verlies: loss [noun] [het verlies, de verliezen].
– Hoop: hope [noun] [de hoop, <no plural>].
– Teleurstelling: disappointment [noun] [de teleurstelling, <no plural>].
– Desastreus: disastrous [adverb/adjective].

In tegenstelling tot

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unlike, in contrast to, as opposed to Click to listen
In tegenstelling tot
[Dutch phrase of the week]

"Tegenstelling" is composed of "tegen" and "stelling", which respectively translate to "against/counter" and "position/statement". Hence, "tegenstelling" literally translates to "counter position": a contrast. The idiom "In tegenstelling tot" literally translates to "in contrast to", but also to "unlike" or "as opposed to", depending on context.

Examples:
– "In tegenstelling tot gisterochtend, had ik vandaag geen vertraging met de trein." 
("Unlike yesterday morning, my train wasn't delayed today." Lit.: "…I didn't have delay with the train.")

– "In tegenstelling tot wat velen geloofden, heeft Nederland gewonnen van Brazilië!" 
("In contrast to what many believed, the Netherlands won against Brasil!")

– "In tegenstelling tot de meeste Nederlanders, ben ik faliekant tegen het nationale gedoogbeleid voor softdrugs." – "Zeurkous…" 
("Unlike most Dutch, I'm completely against the national policy on soft drugs." – "Nag…")

Expressions:
– "Integendeel": on the contrary.

Example:
– "Hoe gaat het jongen? Nog steeds kommer en kwel?" – "Integendeel! Alles loopt op rolletjes!"
("What's up buddy? All sorrow and misery still?" – "On the contrary! Everything goes like clockwork!")

Related words:
– Tegen: against [preposition].

Example:
– "Roze behang in de slaapkamer?
Daar ben ik faliekant tegen!" 
("Pink
wallpaper in the bedroom? I'm totally against that!")

– Stelling: thesis, position, statement [noun] [de stelling, de stellingen].