10 Dutch Idioms That Make Zero Sense (Until They Do)
dodoThe first time someone told me to “fall with the door into the house,” I thought I was having a stroke.
“Val met de deur in huis.”
What?
Why is anyone falling?
Into whose house?
Turns out, they just meant: “Let’s get to the point.”
Welcome to Dutch idioms—where cats jump, frogs are born, and rain falls like lead pipes.
Why Idioms Matter (Even If They’re Weird)
Idioms aren’t just decoration.
They’re how Dutch people express:
Emotion
Sarcasm
Surprise
Everyday small talk
Cultural flavor
If you want to sound natural, not robotic—you need to learn a few.
Even just one or two can make you feel a hundred times more fluent.
Let’s dive into the most common (and most ridiculous) ones.
1. Met de deur in huis vallen
To fall with the door into the house
Meaning: To get straight to the point, no small talk.
“Laat me met de deur in huis vallen: ik wil je promoten.”
(Let me get straight to the point: I want to promote you.)
2. Iets onder de knie hebben
To have something under the knee
Meaning: To master something.
“Na drie maanden heb ik de grammatica eindelijk onder de knie.”
(After three months, I’ve finally mastered the grammar.)
Fun fact: You can also say nog niet helemaal onder de knie when you’re almost there.
3. Het regent pijpenstelen
It’s raining pipe stems
Meaning: It’s raining cats and dogs.
“Neem een paraplu, het regent pijpenstelen.”
(Take an umbrella, it’s pouring out.)
Dutch weather. Always dramatic.
4. Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben
To have an apple to peel with someone
Meaning: To have a bone to pick with someone.
“Ik heb nog een appeltje met jou te schillen.”
(We need to talk. I’m not happy.)
Sounds adorable. Actually... not.
5. Nu komt de aap uit de mouw
Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve
Meaning: Now the truth is revealed.
“Ah, nu komt de aap uit de mouw!”
(Aha! Now I see what’s really going on.)
Because obviously… monkeys and sleeves. Naturally.
6. Een broodjeaapverhaal
A monkey sandwich story
Meaning: A made-up story. An urban legend.
“Dat is gewoon een broodjeaapverhaal.”
(That’s just a myth/fake story.)
No, no one knows why it’s a sandwich. But it’s delightful.
7. Voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rij willen zitten
To want to sit in the front row for a dime
Meaning: Wanting the best without paying for it.
“Hij wil altijd voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rij zitten.”
(He always wants the best deal without paying.)
Dutch culture in one sentence: thrifty, but proud.
8. De kat uit de boom kijken
To watch the cat out of the tree
Meaning: To wait and see / observe before acting.
“Ze zegt nog niets. Ze kijkt de kat uit de boom.”
(She’s waiting to see how it plays out.)
Great for describing cautious or introverted people.
9. Ergens geen kaas van gegeten hebben
To have eaten no cheese of something
Meaning: To know nothing about it.
“Ik heb geen kaas gegeten van programmeren.”
(I don’t know anything about coding.)
It’s hilarious. It’s useful. And it will make people smile.
10. Door de mand vallen
To fall through the basket
Meaning: To get exposed. To be found out.
“Hij deed alsof hij alles wist, maar viel door de mand.”
(He pretended to know everything, but got exposed.)
Try this when someone’s bluffing. Chef’s kiss.
Why Idioms Feel So Hard
Reddit learners say it best:
“I can translate the words, but I still have no idea what the sentence is trying to say.”
Here’s why idioms are tough:
They often don’t make literal sense
You’ll rarely find them explained in apps
They depend on tone, context, and timing
You need exposure, repetition, and examples to really get them
Duolingo? Not helpful here.
It’ll throw broodjeaapverhaal at you and say, “Figure it out.”
How to Actually Learn Dutch Idioms
✅ Use idioms in context, not in isolation
Example: Don’t just memorize de kat uit de boom kijken
→ Practice using it in a sentence
✅ Pair idioms with emotion or story
They’re easier to remember when they connect to a funny moment
✅ Say them out loud
The rhythm helps. Also, it’s fun.
How Dodo Makes Idioms Stick
Idioms can’t be learned with flashcards.
They need pattern recognition—and that’s exactly how Dodo teaches them.
In our Idiom Challenge, you’ll:
Tap to complete idioms in real sentences
Get context and tone for each one
Hear native pronunciation
Match idioms with emotions or reactions
Compete with yourself (and your Dodo) to level up
It’s not about memorizing weird phrases.
It’s about feeling fluent—and sounding Dutch.
What Does This Mean for You?
Idioms are how real Dutch people speak
You won’t understand all of them at first—and that’s okay
Learn them in context, use them out loud, and keep practicing
Dodo helps you train them in ways your brain actually likes
Because let’s be honest—falling with the door into the house is a lot more fun once you know what it means.
You’ve Got This
Next time someone drops a random monkey or cheese reference, you won’t panic.
You’ll smile.
Because you’ll get it.
You speak idiomatic Dutch now.
P.S. Want to master the idioms Dutch people actually use?
👉 Download Dodo and try the Idiom Challenge.
Say goodbye to textbook phrases. Say hello to sounding legit.