Category Archives: DWOTD 1.0

Original DWOTD post 2006 – 2013

Borrelpraat

Posted on by

twaddle [noun] [bor-rel-praat] Iconspeaker_3

“Borrelpraat” is composed of “borrel” and “praat”. Traditionally,
“borrel” refers to a strong alcoholic drink, but it is also often used
to describe a drink with colleagues or friends to celebrate a certain
event (graduation, Christmas (the so-called “kerstborrel“),
or your birthday). “Praat” means “talk” or “story”. Hence, “borrelpraat”
refers to the conversations people have at a “borrel”. As you’ll all
understand, these conversations often lead nowhere but are very
enjoyable. The more alcohol is consumed, the more “borrelpraat” can be
heard.

Examples:
– “Luister maar niet naar die borrelpraat; als je nuchter bent is het niet te volgen.”
(“You’d better not listen to that twaddle; if you’re sober it’s impossible to follow.”)Borrel_2

– “Moeten jullie nog werken of kunnen we gaan borrelen om het weekend te vieren?” 
(“Do you still have work to do or can we go and have a drink to celebrate the weekend?”)

– “Kom eens met ons borrelen.”
(“Join us for a informal drink.”)

– “Je gelooft die roddels toch niet; het is gewoon borrelpraat.”
(“You don’t believe that gossip, do you; it’s just twaddle.”)

Related words:
– Borrel: drink, informal reception [noun] [de borrel, de borrels].
– Borrelen: drink and talk [verb] [borrelde, geborreld].
– Praat: talk [noun] [no singular, de praat].

Kapot

Posted on by

broken, cracked, torn, gone to pieces, out of order [adjective] [ka-pot] Iconspeaker_3

"Kapot" is used as a qualification for a general dysfunctional state. This goes for both objects and persons, physically as well as mentally. "Kapot" can be used in conjunction with a various number of verbs, which will lead to various translations, but all will somehow refer to a dysfunctional state.

You will hear the synonymous "stuk" a lot as well.Kapotte_lamp

Examples:
– "De lamp is kapot." 
("The lamp is broken.")

– "Mam, ik heb de vaas laten vallen, en nu is hij stuk…" 
("Mum, I’ve dropped the vase, and now it’s gone to pieces…")

– "Laat me een keer slapen, want ik ga kapot." 
("Let me sleep just one time, because I’m going to pieces." Line from a song by famous Dutch 80s band Doe Maar)

Expressions:
– "Zich kapot lachen": to laugh one’s ass off.
– "Zich kapot schrikken": to be scared to death.

Example:
– "Frank ziet er slecht uit…ik heb me kapot geschrokken…"
("Frank is looking awful…I was scared to death (by it)…")

– "Zich kapot werken": to work oneself to death.
– "Ergens kapot van zijn": <positive> to be (really) impressed by something, to (really) love something.

Example:
– "Wat vind je van de nieuwe CD van Duffy?" – "Ik ben er helemaal kapot van!"
("What do you think of Duffy’s new CD?" – "I really love it!)

– "Ergens kapot van zijn": <negative> to be dreadfully cut up by something.

Example:
– "Hoe lang is het al uit?" – "Zes maanden, maar ik ben er nog steeds kapot van."
("It’s been how long since the breakup?" – "Six months, but I’m still heart-broken.")

Related words:
– Stuk: broken [adjective].
– Uitgeput: exhausted [adjective].

Boef

Posted on by

scoundrel, rascal, villain [noun] [de boef, de boe-ven] Iconspeaker_3

Mannen met pistolenAnother word for “boef” is “schurk”. The word “boef” however can also take on the meaning of “lawbreaker”. In both translations it is a bit of an old-fashioned word but there is an expression you should know about (see below). Also, the diminutive “boefje” can be used for naughty, mischievous children.

Examples:
– “De Disneyfiguur “Black Pete” heet in het Nederlands “Boris Boef”.” 
(“The Disney character “Black Pete” is called “Boris Boef” in Dutch.”)

– “Ik vraag me af wat er later van het buurjongetje terecht zal komen; hij is nu al een echt boefje.”
(“I wonder what will later become of the boy next-door; he is already quite a scamp.”)

Expressions:
– “Ga (toch) boeven vangen!”: literally “go catch lawbreakers/thieves/etc.”, this expression can be used by people who are fined by the police for a (in their opinion) trivial violation of the law, and who feel that the police should focus on the real bad guys. The ministry of Justice is now actively asking the general public for help with finding wanted criminals on the web site www.boevenvangen.nl .

Related words:
– Schurk: scoundrel, villain [noun] [de schurk, de schurken]. See also DWOTD Schurkenstaat.
– Politie: police [noun] [de politie, <no plural>].

Dat komt goed uit!

Posted on by

that suits me fine, that fits in very well [Dutch phrase of the week] Iconspeaker_3

netherlands-674698_1280“Dat komt goed uit” is literally translated as “that comes good out” 😉 The verb in the phrase is “uitkomen” which has several meanings, such as “to end up, to lead to, to come out, to be disclosed”. “Dat komt goed uit” is used when two events luckily coincide, making things easier for the people involved. Since it is often used as a reply to a proposition, people might add “me”: “dat komt me goed uit”, or “that suits me fine” or “that is very convenient for me”.

Examples:
– “Ik heb volgende week alleen op dinsdagmiddag nog vrij in mijn agenda.” – “Dat komt goed uit, dat is ook de enige middag dat ik kan.”
(“I only have a free space in my calendar on Tuesday afternoon next week.” – “That fits in very well, that’s the only afternoon that would be possible for me.”)

– “Het komt goed uit dat je Italiaans spreekt, anders hadden we nooit dat vakantiehuisje kunnen regelen.” 
(“It comes in handy that you speak Italian, otherwise it would have been impossible to arrange that holiday cottage.”)

– “Ik heb zo’n zin in winterkost!” – “Dat komt goed uit want ik heb net stamppot gemaakt.”
(“I really feel like winter food!”- “That’s very convenient, because I have just made mashed potatoes and cabbage.” See picture for a version of “stamppot” called “boerenkool met worst”.)

– “Ik voel me niet zo lekker vandaag maar hoef niet te werken dus dat komt goed uit.”
(“I don’t feel very well today but I don’t have to work so that suits me fine.”)

– “Wil je een lift naar huis? Ik moet toch die kant op dus dat komt goed uit.”
(“Do you want a ride home? I have to go that direction anyway so that fits in very well.”)

Related words:
– Uitkomen: to end up, to come out, to lead to, to be disclosed [verb] [kwam uit, uitgekomen]

Dak

Posted on by

roof [noun] [het dak, de da-ken] Iconspeaker_3

Dak
Examples:
– "Het dak lekt…" 
("The roof is leaking…")

– "Kom van dat dak af!" 
("Get off that roof immediately!" See Extra.)

– "Ons huis heeft een plat dak." 
("Our house has a flat roof.")

– "Zal er dit jaar met Kerst sneeuw op de daken liggen?" 
("Will there be snow on the roofs with Christmas this year? ")

Expressions:
– "Onder één dak wonen": to live in the same house / under the same roof.
– "Het viel me koud op mijn dak": "I was quite unprepared for it".
– "Uit je dak gaan": to go wild.

Example:
– "Hoe was het concert?" – "Man, ik ging helemaal uit mijn dak!!"
("How was the concert?" – "Man, I went completely wild!!")

Related words:
– Dakpan: roof tile [noun] [de pan, de pannen].
– Regenpijp: (d)rain pipe [noun] [de pijp, de pijpen].
– Schoorsteen: chimney [noun] [de steen, de stenen].
– Ladder: ladder [noun] [de ladder, de ladders].

Extra:
In the late 50s, a Dutch rock ‘n’ roll song became very popular and is now one of the Dutch rock ‘n’ roll classics. The song is called "Kom van dat dak af" and was performed by "Peter en zijn Rockets": lead singer Peter Koelewijn and his band "De Rockets". You can listen to the song here, or watch Peter sing his biggest hit again in 2007…