Netherlandish Proverbs (original) (raw)

Proverb/idiom

Meaning

Area

Image

001

To be able to tie even the devil to a pillow (fr)(nl)

Obstinacy overcomes everything

Lower left

002

To be a pillar-biter (fr)(nl)(it)(lmo)

To be a religious hypocrite

Lower left

003

Never believe someone who carries fire in one hand and water in the other (fr)(nl)

To be two-faced and to stir up trouble

Lower left

004

To bang one's head against a brick wall (fr)(nl)

To waste one's time on an impossible task

Lower left

005

One foot shod, the other bare(fr)(nl)

Balance is paramount

Lower left

006

The sow pulls the bung (fr)(nl)

Negligence will be rewarded with disaster

Lower left

007

To bell the cat (fr)(nl)

To carry out a dangerous or impractical plan

Lower left

008

To be armed to the teeth (fr)(nl)(de)

To be heavily armed

Lower left

009

To put your armor on (fr)(nl)

To be angry

Lower left

010

One shears sheep, the other shears pigs (fr)(nl)

One has all the advantages, the other none

Lower left

011

Shear them but do not skin them (fr)(nl)

Do not press your advantage too far

Lower left

012

The herring does not fry here (nl)

It's not going according to plan

Lower left

013

To fry the whole herring for the sake of the roe (fr)(nl)

To do too much to achieve a little

Lower left

014

To get the lid on the head (nl)

To end up taking responsibility

Lower left

015

The herring hangs by its own gills (fr)(nl)

You must accept responsibility for your own actions

Lower left

016

There is more to it than (just) a single herring (nl)

There is more to it than meets the eye

Lower left

017

What can smoke do to iron? (fr)(nl)

There is no point in trying to change the unchangeable

Lower left

018

To find the dog in the pot (fr)(nl)

To arrive too late for dinner and find all the food has been eaten

Lower left[note 1]

019

To sit between two stools in the ashes (fr)(nl)(de)

To be indecisive

Lower left

020

To be a hen feeler (fr)(nl)

To be very miserly (feeling whether the hen is about to lay an egg before slaughtering it)

Middle left

021

The scissors hang out there (fr)(nl)

They are liable to cheat you there

Upper left

022

To always gnaw on a single bone (fr)(nl)

To continually talk about the same subject

Upper left

023

It depends on the fall of the cards (fr)(nl)

It is up to chance

Upper left

024

The world is turned upside down (fr)(nl)(de)

Everything is the opposite of what it should be

Upper left

025

Leave at least one egg in the nest (fr)(nl)

Always have something in reserve

Upper left

026

To crap on the world (fr)(nl)(de)

To despise everything

Upper left

027

To lead each other by the nose (fr)(nl)(de)

To fool each other

Upper left

028

The die is cast (fr)(nl)(de)

The decision is made

Upper left

029

Fools get the best cards (fr)(nl)

Luck can overcome intelligence

Upper left

030

To look through one's fingers (fr)(nl)

To turn a blind eye

Upper left

031

There hangs the knife (fr)(nl)

To issue a challenge

Upper left

032

There stand the wooden shoes (fr)(nl)

To wait in vain

Upper left

033

To stick out the broom (fr)(nl)

To have fun while the master is away

Upper left

034

To marry under the broomstick (fr)(nl)

To live together without marrying

Upper left

035

To have the roof tiled with tarts (fr)(nl)

To be very wealthy

Upper left

036

To have a hole in one's roof (fr)(nl)(de)

To be unintelligent

Upper left

037

An old roof needs a lot of patching up (fr)(nl)

Old things need more maintenance

Upper left

038

The roof has laths(fr)(nl)

There could be eavesdroppers (The walls have ears)

Middle left

039

To have toothache behind the ears(fr)(nl)

To be a malingerer

Middle left

040

To be pissing against the moon(fr)(nl)

To waste one's time on a futile endeavour

Middle left

041

Here hangs the pot(fr)(nl)

It is the opposite of what it should be

Middle left

042

To shoot a second bolt to find the first(fr)(nl)

To repeat a foolish action

Upper left

043

To shave the fool without lather(fr)(nl)

To trick somebody

Middle

044

Two fools under one hood(fr)(nl)

Stupidity loves company

Middle

045

It grows out of the window(fr)(nl)

It cannot be concealed

Middle

046

To play on the pillory(fr)(nl)

To attract attention to one's shameful acts

Upper middle

047

When the gate is open the pigs will run into the corn(fr)(nl)

Disaster ensues from carelessness

Upper middle

048

When the corn decreases the pig increases

If one person gains then another must lose

Upper middle

049

To run like one's backside is on fire(fr)(nl)

To be in great distress

Upper middle

050

He who eats fire, craps sparks

Do not be surprised at the outcome if you attempt a dangerous venture

Upper middle

051

To hang one's cloak according to the wind(fr)(nl)(de)

To adapt one's viewpoint to the current opinion

Upper middle

052

To toss feathers in the wind (fr)(nl)

To work fruitlessly

Upper middle

053

To gaze at the stork(fr)(nl)

To waste one's time

Upper middle

054

To try to kill two flies with one stroke(fr)(nl)(de)

To be efficient (equivalent to today's To kill two birds with one stone)

Upper middle

055

To fall from the ox onto the rear end of an ass(fr)(nl)

To fall on hard times

Upper middle

056

To kiss the ring of the door (fr)(nl)

To be obsequious

Upper middle

057

To wipe one's backside on the door (nl)

To treat something lightly

Upper middle

058

To go around shouldering a burden (fr) (nl)

To imagine that things are worse than they are

Upper middle

059

One beggar pities the other standing in front of the door(nl)

Being afraid for competition

Upper middle

060

To fish behind the net (fr)(nl)

To miss an opportunity

Middle

061

Sharks eat smaller fish (fr)(nl)

Anything people say will be put in perspective according to their level of importance

Middle

062

To be unable to see the sun shine on the water(fr)(nl)

To be jealous of another's success

Middle

063

It hangs like a privy over a ditch (fr)(nl)

Something that is extremely obvious

Middle

064

Anybody can see through an oak plank if there is a hole in it (fr)(nl)

There is no point in stating the obvious

Middle

065

They both crap through the same hole (fr)(nl)

They are inseparable comrades

Middle

066

To throw one's money into the water(fr)(nl)

To waste one's money

Middle

067

A wall with cracks will soon collapse(fr)(nl)

Anything poorly managed will soon fail

Middle right

068

To not care whose house is on fire as long as one can warm oneself at the blaze(fr)(nl)

To take every opportunity regardless of the consequences to others

Middle right

069

To drag the block(fr)(nl)

To be deceived by a lover or to work at a pointless task

Upper right

070

Fear makes the old woman trot(fr)(nl)

An unexpected event can reveal unknown qualities

Upper right

071

Horse droppings are not figs (fr)(nl)

Do not be fooled by appearances

Upper right

072

If the blind lead the blind both will fall in the ditch(fr)(nl)

There is no point in being guided by others who are equally ignorant

Upper right

073

The journey is not yet over when one can discern the church and steeple (fr)(nl)

Do not give up until the task is fully complete

Upper right

074

Everything, however finely spun, finally comes to the sun(nl)

Nothing can be hidden forever

Upper right

075

To keep one's eye on the sail(fr)(nl)

To stay alert, be wary

Upper right

076

To crap on the gallows(fr)(nl)

To be undeterred by any penalty

Upper right

077

Where the carcass is, there fly the crows(fr)(nl)

If there's something to be gained, everyone hurries in front

Upper right

078

It is easy to sail before the wind(fr)(nl)

If conditions are favourable it is not difficult to achieve one's goal

Upper right

079

Who knows why geese go barefoot?(fr)(nl)

There is a reason for everything, though it may not be obvious

Upper right

080

If I am not meant to be their keeper, I will let geese be geese

Do not interfere in matters that are not your concern

Upper right

081

To see bears dancing[note 2](fr)(nl)

To be starving

Right

082

Wild bears prefer each other's company[note 2](nl)

Peers get along better with each other than with outsiders

Right

083

To throw one's cowl over the fence(fr)(nl)

To discard something without knowing whether it will be required later

Right

084

It is ill to swim against the current(fr)(nl)(de)

It is difficult to oppose the general opinion

Right

085

The pitcher goes to the water until it finally breaks(fr)(nl)(de)

Everything has its limitations

Right

086

The broadest straps are cut from someone else's leather (fr)(nl)

One is quick to another's money.

Right

087

To hold an eel by the tail(fr)(nl)

To undertake a difficult task (Compare: "Catch a tiger by the tail")

Right

088

To fall through the basket(fr)(nl)

To have your deception uncovered

Right

089

To be suspended between heaven and earth(fr)(nl)(de)

To be in an awkward situation

Right

090

To keep the hen's egg and let the goose's egg go(fr)(nl)

To make a bad decision

Right

091

To yawn against the oven(fr)(nl)

To attempt more than one can manage

Lower right

092

To be barely able to reach from one loaf to another(fr)(nl)

To have difficulty living within budget

Lower right

093

A hoe without a handle(fr)(nl)

Probably something useless[note 3]

Lower right

094

To look for the hatchet(fr)(nl)

To try to find an excuse

Lower right

095

Here he is with his lantern(fr)(nl)

To finally have an opportunity to show a talent

Lower right

096

A hatchet with a handle(fr)(nl)

Probably signifies "the whole thing"[note 3]

Lower right

097

He who has spilt his porridge cannot scrape it all up again(fr)(nl)

Once something is done it cannot be undone (Compare: "Don't cry over spilt milk")

Lower right

098

To put a spoke through someone's wheel(fr)(nl)

To put up an obstacle, to destroy someone's plans

Lower right

099

Love is on the side where the money bag hangs(fr)(nl)

Love can be bought

Lower right

100

To pull to get the longest end(fr)(nl)

To attempt to get the advantage

Lower right

101

To stand in one's own light(fr)(nl)

To behave contrarily to one's own happiness or advantage

Lower right

102

No one looks for others in the oven who has not been in there himself(fr)(nl)

To imagine wickedness in others is a sign of wickedness in oneself

Lower right

103

To have the world spinning on one's thumb(fr)(nl)

To have every advantage (Compare: "To have the world in the palm of your hand")

Lower right

104

To tie a flaxen beard to the face of Christ(fr)(nl)

To hide deceit under a veneer of Christian piety

Lower right

105

To have to stoop to get on in the world(fr)(nl)

To succeed one must be willing to make sacrifices

Lower right

106

To cast roses before swine(fr)(nl)(de)

To waste effort on the unworthy

Lower middle

107

To fill the well after the calf has already drowned(fr)(nl)

To take action only after a disaster (Compare: "Shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted")

Lower middle

108

To be as gentle as a lamb(fr)(nl)(de)

Someone who is exceptionally calm or gentle

Lower middle

109

She puts the blue cloak on her husband(fr)(nl)

She deceives him

Lower middle

110

Watch out that a black dog does not come in between(fr)(nl)

Mind that things don't go wrong

Lower middle

111

One winds on the distaff what the other spins(fr)(nl)

Both spread gossip

Lower middle

112

To carry the day out in baskets(fr)(nl)(de)

To waste one's time (Compare: "to carry coals to Newcastle" and "to sell sand in the desert") (de)

Middle

113

To hold a candle to the Devil(fr)(nl)(de)

To flatter and make friends indiscriminately (de)

Middle

114

To confess to the Devil(fr)(nl)(de)

To reveal secrets to one's enemy (de)

Middle

115

The pig is stabbed through the belly(fr)(nl)

A foregone conclusion or what is done can not be undone

Middle

116

Two dogs over one bone seldom agree(fr)(nl)

To argue over a single point

Middle

117

When two dogs fight out who gets the bone,the third one steals it(fr)(nl)

To fight or argue guarantees loss.

Middle

118

To be a skimming ladle(fr)(nl)

To be a parasite or sponger

Middle

119

What is the good of a beautiful plate when there is nothing on it?(fr)(nl)

Beauty does not make up for substance

Middle

120

The Fox and the Stork or The Fox and the Crane dine together(fr)(nl)

If you trick someone they might get back at you[note 4]

Middle

121

To blow in the ear(fr)(nl)

To spread gossip

Middle

122

Chalk up a debt(fr)(nl)(de)

To owe someone a favour

Middle

123

The meat on the spit must be basted(fr)(nl)

Certain things need constant attention

Middle

124

There is no turning the spit with him(fr)(nl)

He is uncooperative

Middle

125

To sit on hot coals(fr)(nl)(de)

To be impatient

Middle

126

To catch fish without a net(fr)(nl)

To profit from the work of others

Middle