Learning idioms is a fantastic way to sound more natural when speaking Dutch. These expressions add color to the language and often carry meanings that aren't obvious from the words alone. Whether you're an advanced learner or just starting out, practicing with a gratis AI-chatbot can help you master these idioms in context. Here are ten essential Dutch idioms and their meanings!

1. Het is koek en ei – "It’s cake and egg"

🔹 Meaning: This idiom means that two people get along very well. It’s used to describe a good relationship, whether personal or professional.🔹 Example: Na hun ruzie is het nu weer koek en ei tussen hen. (After their argument, they’re getting along well again.)

2. Iets onder de knie hebben – "To have something under the knee"

🔹 Meaning: This means to master a skill or understand something thoroughly.🔹 Example: Na maanden oefenen heb ik Nederlands onder de knie! (After months of practice, I’ve mastered Dutch!)

💡 Tip: Use a gratis AI-chatbot to practice idioms in different sentence structures!

3. Nu komt de aap uit de mouw – "Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve"

🔹 Meaning: This means that the truth is finally revealed, often after being hidden.🔹 Example: Hij zei dat hij ziek was, maar nu komt de aap uit de mouw: hij had gewoon geen zin! (He said he was sick, but now the truth comes out: he just didn’t feel like it!)

4. De kogel is door de kerk – "The bullet is through the church"

🔹 Meaning: The decision has been made after much discussion.🔹 Example: We hebben eindelijk besloten te verhuizen. De kogel is door de kerk! (We’ve finally decided to move. The decision is final!)

5. Een kat in de zak kopen – "To buy a cat in the bag"

🔹 Meaning: To be tricked into buying something worthless.🔹 Example: Ik kocht een tweedehands auto, maar het bleek een kat in de zak te zijn. (I bought a second-hand car, but it turned out to be a bad deal.)

6. Met de deur in huis vallen – "To fall with the door into the house"

🔹 Meaning: To get straight to the point without any small talk.🔹 Example: Ik val maar met de deur in huis: ik wil een salarisverhoging! (I’ll get straight to the point: I want a salary raise!)

7. De spijker op de kop slaan – "To hit the nail on the head"

🔹 Meaning: To say something exactly right.🔹 Example: Je hebt de spijker op de kop geslagen met je analyse! (You hit the nail on the head with your analysis!)

8. Door de bomen het bos niet meer zien – "Not seeing the forest through the trees"

🔹 Meaning: To be overwhelmed by too many details and lose sight of the big picture.🔹 Example: Er zijn zoveel regels dat ik door de bomen het bos niet meer zie. (There are so many rules that I can’t see the big picture anymore.)

9. Van een mug een olifant maken – "To make an elephant out of a mosquito"

🔹 Meaning: To exaggerate something small into a big problem.🔹 Example: Maak niet zo'n drama, je maakt van een mug een olifant! (Don’t make such a fuss, you’re exaggerating the problem!)

10. Het regent pijpenstelen – "It’s raining pipe stems"

🔹 Meaning: It’s raining very heavily.🔹 Example: We kunnen niet naar buiten, want het regent pijpenstelen! (We can’t go outside because it’s pouring rain!)

Conclusion

Dutch idioms can be tricky, but they add a fun and expressive touch to your conversations. A gratis AI-chatbot is a great way to practice these idioms in real dialogue, helping you understand their meanings and use them correctly. By incorporating these expressions into your daily speech, you'll sound more fluent and natural in Dutch. So start practicing today and impress native speakers with your idiomatic knowledge!