Als klap op de vuurpijl

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to crown/top/cap it all Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[als klap op de vuur-pijl]

Vuurwerk A "vuurpijl" literally translates as "fire arrow" and is the general name for the aerial shells that the Dutch typically like to fire off on New Year's eve. The "klap" is what follows the flash; the "bang", the crowning touch. At least that is my guess, explanations differ 🙂 This phrase is typically used to close off a positive sequence of events but you can also use it when things are not going your way.

Examples:
– "Ik heb onlangs een nieuwe auto gewonnen, mag een jaar lang gratis tanken en als klap op de vuurpijl hoef ik niet eens wegenbelasting te betalen!" 
("Recently I have won a new car, I get gas/petrol for free for a year, and to top it all: I don't even have to pay road tax!" Note the verb 'tanken': to fill up, refuel.)

– "Een collegaatje van mij heeft net een promotie gekregen, met haar vriend een huis gekocht en als klap op de vuurpijl gaat ze een jaar op wereldreis!" 
("A colleague of mine just got a promotion, she has bought a house with her boyfriend and to crown it all she is going to travel the world for a year!" Lit. 'wereldreis' is a trip around the world.)

– "Vanochtend had ik een sollicitatiegesprek en ik had al slecht geslapen, en toen bleek mijn pak vies te zijn en als klap op de vuurpijl miste ik ook nog mijn trein!" 
("This morning I had a job interview and I had already slept badly, and then my suit turned out to be dirty and to top it all I also missed my train!")

Related words:
– Knallen: to bang [verb] [knalde, geknald]. Sometimes used as slang for 'to have sex'.
– Vuur: fire [noun] [het vuur, de vuren].
– Vuurwerk: fireworks [noun] [het vuurwerk, <no plural>].

Overdrijven

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1. to exaggerate, to blow up, to overdo Click to listen
Themask
[verb]
[o-ver-drij-ven, o-ver-dreef, h. o-ver-dre-ven]

Depending on where you put the emphasis,"overdrijven" may translate to 1. to exaggerate, or 2. to blow over. 

Examples:
– "Jij luistert nooit naar mij!" – "Schat, je overdrijft." 
("You never listen to me!:  – "Honey, you're exaggerating.")

– "Frank kan altijd zo vreselijk overdrijven. Hij maakt van elke mug een olifant." 
("Frank always knows how to blow things up. He makes a mountain of every molehill.")

– "Deze hele affaire is bijzonder onverkwikkelijk." – "Vindt u dat niet lichtelijk overdreven?"
("This whole affair is most unpleasant." – "Don't you think that is slightly exaggerated?")

Expressions:
– "Je kunt ook overdrijven": (lit.) you can also overdo it. Used when confronted with serious cases of exaggeration or overdoing.
– "Overdrijven is ook een vak": (lit.) Exaggeration is also a profession. Used when confronted with serious cases of exaggeration or overdoing.

Example:
– "Wat heb ik toch een vreselijk dikke kont in deze spijkerbroek…" – "Overdrijven is ook een vak…"
("I have such a terribly big butt in these jeans…" – "You know how to exaggerate…")

Related words:
– Aanstellen: 1. to appoint [verb] [aanstellen, stelde aan, h. aangesteld]. 2. to put
up a drama act, to put on an air [verb] [aanstellen, stelde aan, h.
aangesteld].

Example:
– "Stel je niet zo aan, het valt best mee."
("Don't be such a drama queen, it's no so bad.")

2. to blow over, to float by Click to listen
Ruysdael
[verb]
[o-ver-drij-ven, dreef o-ver, i. o-ver-ge-dre-ven]

If you put the emphasis on the "o", "overdrijven" translates to "to blow over"."Drijven" literally translates to "to float". "Overdrijven" can also be used fuguratuvely: not only clouds can "overdrijven" but also moods…

Instead of "overdrijven" you can also use "overwaaien" if the clouds blow over faster 🙂

Examples:
– "Ik voorspel je: dit onweer zal overdrijven." 
("I tell you: this thunderstorm will blow over." Lit.: "I predict you: …")

– "Geen paniek, Franks boosheid drijft altijd snel over." 
("Don't panic, Frank's anger always blows over fast." Lit.: "No panic…")

Related words:
– Overwaaien: to blow over [verb] [overwaaien, waaide over, i. overgewaaid].
– Waaien: to blow (by the wind) [verb] [waaien, waaide, h. gewaaid].

Example:
– "De wind heeft zo hard gewaaid dat het nu een enorme ravage is in de tuin."
("The wind has blown so hard that it's a huge mess in the garden now.")

Jeugdsentiment

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positive memories of one's youth, nostalgia for one's youth Click to listen
[noun]
[het jeugd-sen-ti-ment, <no plural>]

Bassie-en-adriaan With 'sentiment' translating as 'sentiment' or 'emotion(s)', the word "jeugdsentiment" tries to cover the emotions that arise when being reminded of positive (defining) childhood experiences, typically those that are commonly shared. Not necessarily 'nostalgic' as in wanting things to be as they were, but thinking back to good times and experiences.

"Jeugdsentiment" is typically used as a one-word expression, covering all the above, saying something like "ah, those were the days". No further words are needed when it is a shared memory! I have some trouble finding a one word English equivalent, but hopefully the examples will help you get the gist.

Examples:
– "Ga je ook naar de nieuwe A-team film?" – "Ja man, tuurlijk; jeugdsentiment!" 
("Will you also go to see the new A-team movie?" – "Yeah (man), of course; remember the original A-team? Those were the days!" Note that 'tuurlijk' is used colloquially for 'natuurlijk'.)

– "Ik kwam laatst bij het opruimen mijn Bassie-en-Adriaan-t-shirt tegen!"  – "Echt waar? Wauw, jeugdsentiment!! Allememaggies!!" 
("I was clearing out stuff the other day and I found my 'Bassie-and-Adriaan' t-shirt!" – "Really? Wow, Bassie and Adriaan were so cool!! Allememaggies!" Read the 'Extra' for more on 'Bassie en Adriaan' and the meaning of 'allememaggies'.)

– "Om jeugdsentiment te kunnen hebben, moet er wel een soort van positieve jeugdherinnering zijn, lijkt mij." 
("In order to experience "jeugdsentiment", I'd say one must have some kind of positive childhood memory…")

– "De emotie is misschien hetzelfde, maar mijn ouders en ik delen niet hetzelfde jeugdsentiment." 
("Perhaps the emotion is identical, but my parents and I do not share the same "jeugdsentiment".)

– "Jij bent volgens mij wel een nostalgisch type, niet waar?"  – "Nou, het is vooral jeugdsentiment hoor…" 
("You come across as quite the nostalgic type, am I right?" - "Well, I have to say it is mainly 'jeugdsentiment'.")

– "Hé, hoe was het om weer in je geboortedorp te zijn?" – "Veel kleiner dan ik me kon herinneren, maar het was echt leuk, jeugdsentiment weet je wel." 
("Hey, what was it like to be back in the village where you were born?"- "A lot smaller than I could rembemer, but it was really nice, 'jeugdsentiment' you know.")

Related words:
– Sentiment: sentiment, emotion(s) [noun] [het sentiment, <no plural>].
– Sentimenteel: sentimental [adverb/adjective].
– Emotioneel: emotional [adverb/adjective].
– Nostalgisch: nostalgic [adjective].
– Herinnering: memory [noun] [de herinnering, de herinneringen].
– Vroeger: the old days, back in the days [adverb/adjective].
– Kindertijd: childhood days [noun] [de kindertijd, <no plural>].

Extra:
"Bassie en Adriaan" were a succesful circus duo with their own TV series. Their biggest success was in the late seventies and eighties. Bassie was the clown and Adriaan the 'acrobaat' (tumbler) and they had wild adventures. Well, they seemed wild to us, but then we were just kids :-) Other characters appearing in the series that drunk men in their thirties may stil impersonate are the crooks "B1" and the always deaf "B2" and their boss the 'Baron'.

Bassie introduced the expression 'allememaggies'; something like 'wow', 'oh my god', 'what now??'. One other famous phrase is "Dat ga ik aan de binnenkant van mijn ogen bekijken"; meaning he went to sleep to dream about it.

The song with which 'Bassie en Adriaan' opened every episode is famous as well, you can listen to it here. Sander's father once took him to a real circus show with Bassie and Adriaan. He bought me a 'Bassie en Adriaan' t-shirt which I wore to school with pride. Aaah, jeugdsentiment!

Vertrek

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1. room, apartment, chamber Click to listen
Vertrek
[noun]
[het ver-trek. de ver-trek-ken]

A "vertrek" is a room. It's somewhat formal, used to refer to rooms or spaces in houses or buildings in general. Synonyms are "kamer" (room) and "ruimte" (space).

Examples:
– "Dit huis heeft vijf vertrekken: een woonkamer, twee slaapkamers, een keuken en een badkamer met douche en toilet." 
("This house has five rooms: a living room, two bedrooms, a kitchen and a bathroom with a shower and toilet.")

– "Het vertrek was een grote ravage, overal lag er troep op de vloer." 
("The room was one big mess, there was rubbish all over the floor.")

Related words:
– Kamer: room, chamber [noun] [de kamer, de kamers].
– Slaapkamer: bedroom [noun] [de slaapkamer, de slaapkamers].
– Woonkamer: living room [noun] [de woonkamer, de woonkamers].

2. departure, start, take off Click to listen
Spaceshuttle
[noun]
[het ver-trek, <no plural>]

"Vertrek" is also a departure. "Trek" is (probably) etymologically related to "track", so "vertrek" is something like 'the act of going on a track'….

Related verb is "vertrekken", see 3.

Examples:
– "Na de enorme flater op TV, heeft de politicus gisteren zijn vertrek bij de partij aangekondigd." 
("After the huge blunder on TV, the politician has announced his departure from the party yesterday.")

– "Dames en heren, wij zijn klaar voor vertrek. Wilt u alle elektronische apparatuur uitschakelen en opbergen?"
("Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for departure. Would you please switch off all electronic devices and stow them?")

Related words:
– Afscheid: goodbye, farewell, parting [noun] [het afscheid, <no plural>].

Example:
– "Bij het afscheid gaf Frank zijn schoonmoeder drie zoenen op de wang."
("When he left, Frank gave his mother in law three kisses on the cheek." Lit.: "At the goodbye, …")

– Vertrekhal: departure lounge/hall [noun] [de vertrekhal, de vertrekhallen].
– Vertrektijd: departure time [noun] [de vertrektijd, de vertrektijden].

3. to leave Click to listen
Koffer
[verb]
[ver-trek-ken, ver-trok, i. ver-trok-ken]

"Vertrek" is also the first person singular conjugation of the verb "vertrekken": "ik vertrek" (I leave).

Examples:
– "Dat doet de deur dicht! Ik vertrek!" 
("That does it! I am leaving!")

– "Vertrekken is een beetje sterven…" 
("Partir, c'est mourir un peu… / To part is to die a little…")

– "Ik heb vandaag mijn baan opgezegd, morgen vertrek ik naar Parijs." 
("I've quit my job today, tomorrow I will leave for Paris.")

Expressions:
– "Met opgeheven hoofd vertrekken": to leave with one's head held high.
– "Met de noorderzon vertrekken": to do a moonlight flit, to leave without notice to an unknown destination.

Example:
– "De toekomst van hun relatie is onzeker nu Frank met de noorderzon vertrokken is." 
("The future of their relationship is uncertain now Frank has done a moonlight flit.")

– "Met stille trom vertrekken": to leave quietly, unnoticed. (Lit.: to leave with quiet drum).

Related words:
– Groetjes:  regards [noun] [het groetje, de groetjes].
– Toedeledoki: toodle-oo, bye(-bye), cheers, cheerio [interjection].

Example:
– "Ik vertrek, toedeledoki!"
("I am leaving, toodle-oo!")

– Verlaten: to leave, to abandon [verb] [verlaten, verliet, h. verlaten].

Blazen

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1. to blow Click to listen
Blazen
[verb]
[bla-zen, blies, ge-bla-zen]

"Blazen" translates to "to blow". In case of the wind blowing, "waaien" is used.

Examples:
– "Mevrouw, alcoholcontrole. Wilt u even in het apparaat blazen alstublieft? Ik zie het al, geen alcohol in uw adem, uitstekend!" 
("Ma'am,
alcohol breath test. Could you blow into the device, please? I can
already tell, no alcohol in your breath, excellent!")

– "Lekker! Bloemkool met een papje!" – "Oppassen, eerst blazen, want het is heet!" 
("Yummy! Cauliflower with sauce!" – "Be careful, first blow on it, because it's hot!")

– "<Dokter> Wilt u op uw hand blazen? Zo kan ik nagaan of u een liesbreuk heeft." 
("<Doctor> Could you blow on your hand? This way I can verify whether you have an inguinal hernia.")

– "En toen kwam er een olifant met een lange snuit en die blies het verhaaltje uit…" 
("Then came an elephant with a long snout who blew out the story…" Line to finish a children's bed time story with.)

Expressions:
– "Hoog van de toren blazen": to blow one's own trumpet, to boast.
– "De laatste adem uitblazen": to draw one's final breath.
– "Dat is <infinitief> geblazen": that means <gerund>, to have to <infinitive>.

Example:
– "Kom op zeg! Geluk komt niet aanwaaien, het is hard werken geblazen!"
("Come on! Luck will not come just like that, you have to work hard!" Lit.: "…Luck will not come blowing on (to you)…")

– "Van toeten noch blazen weten": he does not know chalk from cheese, to be completely ignorant.
– "Stoom afblazen": to blow off steam.

Related words:
– Adem: breath [noun] [de adem, <no plural>].
– Ademen: to breath [verb] [ademen, ademde, h. geademd].

Example:
– "Adem in, adem uit."
("Breath in, breath out.")

2. bladders Iconspeaker_3
[noun]
[de blaas, de bla-zen]
Manneken-Pis

A "blaas" is a bladder. The plural form is the same as the verb "blazen" but has of course nothing to do with it.

The peeing little man in the picture is Manneken Pis, who must have a fairly large bladder, since he's peeing all day uninterruptedly 😉

Examples:
– "Frank moet een kleine blaas hebben, want hij gaat heel vaak plassen." 
("Frank must have a small bladder, because needs to pee a lot.")

– "Heeft Linda nou alweer een blaasontsteking? Balen…" 
("Does Linda have a bladder infection? Tough luck….")

Related words:
– Gezeik: load of crap, bull(shit), crap [noun] [het gezeik, <no plural>]. 
– Plassen: to pee [verb] [plassen, plaste, h. geplast].
– Zeiken: to piss, <fig.> to whine, to nag, to be a pain in the neck [verb] [zeiken, zeikte/zeek, h. gezeikt.gezeken].

Example:
– "Zit toch niet zo te zeiken!"
("Don't be such a pain in the neck!")