10 Funny And Common Dutch Idioms
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Dutch idioms are deeply tied to the country’s culture, history, and food.
Understanding these expressions will make your conversational Dutch sound much more natural.
Many of these idioms sound completely hilarious when translated literally into English.
Below is a list of the most common and funny Dutch idioms you’ll encounter.
Table of Contents:
Nu komt de aap uit de mouw
This is one of the most famous idioms in the Dutch language.
The literal translation of this phrase is “now the monkey comes out of the sleeve”.
We use this expression when the hidden truth about a situation is finally revealed.
It’s the exact equivalent of saying “the cat is out of the bag” in English.
Hij loog over ziek zijn, nu komt de aap uit de mouw.
Helaas pindakaas
This idiom literally translates to “unfortunately peanut butter”.
Dutch people use this rhyming phrase to say “too bad” or “that’s a pity”.
It’s a lighthearted way to express disappointment about a minor inconvenience.
De winkel is al dicht. Helaas pindakaas!
Een fluitje van een cent
This phrase translates literally to “a whistle of a cent”.
You use this expression to describe a task that’s incredibly easy to complete.
The English equivalent of this idiom is “a piece of cake”.
Die wiskundetoets was een fluitje van een cent.
Over koetjes en kalfjes praten
The literal translation here is “talking about little cows and calves”.
This is the standard Dutch expression for making small talk.
You use it when discussing unimportant, casual topics like the weather.
We hebben gewoon over koetjes en kalfjes gepraat.
Met de gebakken peren zitten
This funny phrase translates to “to sit with the baked pears”.
It means that you’re left dealing with the negative consequences of a situation.
Dutch speakers often use this when someone else causes a problem but leaves you to fix it.
Hij maakte een fout en nu zit ik met de gebakken peren.
Een koekje van eigen deeg
The direct translation of this phrase is “a cookie of own dough”.
This is used when someone receives the same bad treatment they previously gave to others.
It carries the exact same meaning as giving someone “a taste of their own medicine”.
Hij was erg onbeleefd, en nu krijgt hij een koekje van eigen deeg.
Maak dat de kat wijs
This expression literally means “make that the cat wise”.
You say this when someone tells you a blatant lie.
It’s a sarcastic way of saying “I don’t believe you at all”.
Heb jij al het huiswerk gedaan? Maak dat de kat wijs.
Iets met de Franse slag doen
This idiom translates literally to “doing something with the French stroke”.
It means doing a rushed, careless, or half-baked job.
Historically, this phrase originated from a specific horse-riding technique, but today it just means lazy work.
Hij heeft zijn kamer met de Franse slag schoongemaakt.
Met de deur in huis vallen
The literal translation of this phrase is “to fall with the door into the house”.
This idiom perfectly captures the famous Dutch cultural trait of directness.
It means getting straight to the point without any hesitation or small talk.
Ik zal maar met de deur in huis vallen: je bent ontslagen.
Er zit haar in de boter
This phrase literally translates to “there’s hair in the butter”.
It means that there’s an argument or a sudden problem between people.
This specific variation is heavily used in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium.
Ze praten niet meer, er zit haar in de boter.
Dutch idioms summary
Learning these idioms will help you understand native Dutch speakers much better.
I’ve included a quick reference table below to help you review them.
| Dutch Idiom | Literal Translation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Nu komt de aap uit de mouw | Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve | The hidden truth is revealed |
| Helaas pindakaas | Unfortunately peanut butter | Too bad / that’s a pity |
| Een fluitje van een cent | A whistle of a cent | Very easy / a piece of cake |
| Over koetjes en kalfjes praten | Talking about little cows and calves | Making casual small talk |
| Met de gebakken peren zitten | To sit with the baked pears | Being left to deal with the consequences |
| Een koekje van eigen deeg | A cookie of own dough | A taste of your own medicine |
| Maak dat de kat wijs | Make that the cat wise | I don’t believe you |
| Iets met de Franse slag doen | Doing something with the French stroke | Doing a careless or rushed job |
| Met de deur in huis vallen | To fall with the door into the house | Getting straight to the point |
| Er zit haar in de boter | There’s hair in the butter | There’s an argument or problem |
