Summary: This fun and educational guide explores 25+ idioms that exist in both English and Dutch. From perfect matches to quirky false friends, you’ll find literal meanings, idiomatic meanings, and real-life examples that show how closely the two languages align — and where they amusingly diverge.
This collection of idioms translates nearly word-for-word, including two famous expressions that are often called proverbs. (They still count — idioms come in many forms!) Plus we’ve included a “false friend.” That’s a word or phrase that you think translates directly, but it doesn’t! 🙁
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Je vuile was buiten hangen
Literal Meaning: To hang your dirty laundry outside
Idiomatic Meaning: To share private problems in public
Example: They had a huge argument at the restaurant — talk about washing your dirty linen in public.
Het hoofd boven water houden
Literal Meaning: To keep your head above water
Idiomatic Meaning: To manage to survive (especially financially or emotionally)
Example: It’s been tough since I lost my job, but I’m managing to keep my head above water.
Je gezicht redden
Literal Meaning: To save your face
Idiomatic Meaning: To avoid humiliation or preserve dignity
Example: He apologized publicly to save face after the mistake was exposed.
Je nek uitsteken
Literal Meaning: To stick out your neck
Idiomatic Meaning: To take a risk
Example: She really stuck her neck out by recommending him for the job.
Geen been om op te staan
Literal Meaning: No leg to stand on
Idiomatic Meaning: To have no valid argument or defense
Example: Without proof, he didn’t have a leg to stand on in court.
Je beste beentje voorzetten
Literal Meaning: To put your best little leg forward
Idiomatic Meaning: To make your best effort
Example: I put my best foot forward during the interview, so I hope I get the job.
Op iemands tenen trappen
Literal Meaning: To step on someone’s toes
Idiomatic Meaning: To offend or upset someone
Example: I didn’t mean to step on your toes by making that decision without you.
Er hangt iets boven het hoofd
Literal Meaning: Something is hanging above the head
Idiomatic Meaning: To be worried about something unpleasant that may happen
Example: With that deadline hanging over my head, I can’t think about anything else.
De hoofden bij elkaar steken
Literal Meaning: To stick heads together
Idiomatic Meaning: To collaborate or brainstorm
Example: Let’s put our heads together and come up with a better plan.
Een kat in een zak kopen
Literal Meaning: To buy a cat in a bag
Idiomatic Meaning: To buy something without inspecting it first
Example: Buying that car without a test drive was like buying a pig in a poke.
Ieder zijn meug
Literal Meaning: Everyone their own taste
Idiomatic Meaning: Everyone has their own preferences
Example: I would never wear those shoes, but hey — to each their own.
Door dik en dun gaan
Literal Meaning: To go through thick and thin
Idiomatic Meaning: To support someone or persevere in all situations
Example: We’ve been friends through thick and thin since kindergarten.
Een vinger in de pap hebben
Literal Meaning: To have a finger in the porridge
Idiomatic Meaning: To be involved in something (especially influentially)
Example: She seems to have a finger in every project at the company.
De tijd doden
Literal Meaning: To kill time
Idiomatic Meaning: To spend time doing something unimportant
Example: I read a Hollywood gossip magazine to kill time while waiting for my appointment.
Twee vliegen in één klap slaan
Literal Meaning: To hit two flies in one blow
Idiomatic Meaning: To achieve two things at once
Example: By biking to work, I kill two birds with one stone: exercise and commuting.
De appel valt niet ver van de boom
Literal Meaning: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree
Idiomatic Meaning: Children resemble their parents
Example: She’s just as stubborn as her father — the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Van een mug een olifant maken
Literal Meaning: To make an elephant out of a mosquito
Idiomatic Meaning: To exaggerate a small problem
Example: Calm down — you’re making a mountain out of a molehill.
Al je eieren in één mand leggen
Literal Meaning: To put all your eggs in one basket
Idiomatic Meaning: To risk everything on a single venture
Example: Investing your entire savings in one stock is putting all your eggs in one basket.
Je schepen achter je verbranden
Literal Meaning: To burn your ships behind you
Idiomatic Meaning: To cut off the possibility of retreat
Example: Don’t burn your bridges with your old boss — you might need a reference.
Olie op het vuur gooien
Literal Meaning: To throw oil on the fire
Idiomatic Meaning: To make a bad situation worse
Example: His sarcastic comment just added fuel to the fire.
De spijker op zijn kop slaan
Literal Meaning: To hit the nail on its head
Idiomatic Meaning: To describe something accurately
Example: You hit the nail on the head — that’s exactly how I see it.
In hetzelfde schuitje zitten
Literal Meaning: To be in the same little boat
Idiomatic Meaning: To be in the same difficult situation
Example: We’re all in the same boat with these budget cuts.
Iets met een korreltje zout nemen
Literal Meaning: To take something with a grain of salt
Idiomatic Meaning: To be skeptical about something
Example: He tends to exaggerate, so I take his stories with a grain of salt.
This idiom looks similar in both languages, but the meanings are different.
Een oogje hebben op iemand of iets
Literal Meaning: To watch (have an eye on) someone or something
Idiomatic Meanings:
Example (EN): I’ll keep an eye on your bag while you get us some coffee.
Example (NL): Hij heeft een oogje op haar. (He has a crush on her.)
Special insight: In English, you can say, “She’s only got eyes for you.” That’s a lovely way to describe an intense romantic interest. Enjoy this iconic song by The Flamingos!
These are often called proverbs, but they’re fixed expressions with non-literal meaning — so they’re idioms too.
Waar een wil is, is een weg
Literal Meaning: Where there’s a will, there’s a road
Idiomatic Meaning: Determination makes anything possible
Example: He practiced the piano every day, despite his health problems; and now he’s a big star! Where there’s a will, there’s a way.
Rome is niet in één dag gebouwd
Literal Meaning: Rome was not built in one day
Idiomatic Meaning: Great work takes time
Example: Learning a new language takes a lot of time, work and patience. Well… Rome wasn’t built in a day!
English, like Dutch, is full of idioms! Take a look at our Business English Idioms series to learn even more:
Learn 20 Business English Idioms, Lesson 1
39 Top Business English Idioms, Lesson 2
24 Idioms Business English Idioms, Lesson 3
20 Idioms for Business English, Lesson 4
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Authors: Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA, Director, The English Center and Alexandra Roberts English teacher. And a special shoutout to Docent Nederlands Erik Bartling, who helped us verify that each and every one of these idioms is truly a good match.
