Dutch idioms: 12 expressions you will hear, and what they mean
Met de deur in huis vallen, de kat uit de boom kijken, het regent pijpenstelen: twelve Dutch idioms you will hear at work and at home — what they mean word for word, and what they really mean.
Updated · 2 min read
Dutch idioms are vivid and often about animals, houses and the weather. Learn them as whole phrases; the verbs still change: ik val met de deur in huis, hij viel met de deur in huis.
| Idiom | Word for word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| met de deur in huis vallen | to fall into the house with the door | to get straight to the point |
| de kat uit de boom kijken | to watch the cat out of the tree | to wait and see |
| twee vliegen in één klap slaan | to hit two flies in one blow | to kill two birds with one stone |
| het regent pijpenstelen | it is raining pipe stems | it is pouring |
| nu komt de aap uit de mouw | now the monkey comes out of the sleeve | now the truth comes out |
| een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben | to have an apple to peel with someone | to have a bone to pick with someone |
| de koe bij de hoorns vatten | to take the cow by the horns | to take the bull by the horns |
| iets onder de knie hebben | to have something under the knee | to have mastered something |
| dat is koffiedik kijken | that is looking at coffee grounds | that is pure guesswork |
| wie A zegt, moet ook B zeggen | who says A must also say B | in for a penny, in for a pound |
| zo gezegd, zo gedaan | so said, so done | no sooner said than done |
| er is geen kip te zien | there is no chicken to be seen | there is not a soul around |
Ik heb het nog niet helemaal onder de knie.
Literally: I haven’t quite mastered it yet.
Meaning: useful about your Dutch!
Our app has a whole Proverbs & Idioms track with Dutch sayings; this guide sticks to the ones you will hear most. For the words around them, see small talk and gezellig. Verbs: kijken, slaan, zeggen, doen.
Sayings, recalled
16Word’s Proverbs & Idioms track gives you the meaning and asks for the Dutch saying — with a game of Blocks between answers. Page 1 is free.
Keep learning
- What gezellig means
- Dutch directness
- Small talk
- The Dutch phrasebook
- Verb tables: zijn, gaan, komen, kunnen, moeten, willen, mogen, zullen, worden, wonen, werken, leren, lezen, schrijven, spreken, luisteren, begrijpen, vragen, maken, geven, nemen, zien, denken, vinden
More guides like this
- What gezellig means · Dutch holidays and traditions · Dutch birthday customs
- Dutch surnames: van, de, van der · Dutch food words · Dutch directness
Frequently asked questions
What does met de deur in huis vallen mean?
To get straight to the point — literally, to fall into the house with the door.
How do you say it's raining cats and dogs in Dutch?
Het regent pijpenstelen — it is raining pipe stems.
What does de kat uit de boom kijken mean?
To wait and see how things develop before acting.
What is the Dutch for kill two birds with one stone?
Twee vliegen in één klap slaan — to hit two flies in one blow.
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Official sources
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