Dutch Idioms That Will Make You Sound Instantly Native

Ever heard a Dutch speaker say something like:

“Hij valt met de deur in huis!”
(He falls with the door into the house!)

You probably thought, “Wait… what?”

Dutch idioms might sound strange, funny, or even nonsensical at first. But mastering a handful instantly makes your Dutch feel more natural, expressive, and fluent.

Today, you’ll learn:

• Why idioms are critical to sounding natural

• 15 popular, practical Dutch idioms

• Clear explanations and real-life contexts

• How and when to use them effectively

• Practical tips from real Dutch learners

• How Dodo’s interactive Idiom Challenge makes idioms stick

Let’s dive in!

Why Idioms Are Your Secret Weapon

Idioms aren’t just decorative language—they’re powerful shortcuts that convey subtle meaning, humor, emotion, and cultural flavor.

Master idioms, and you:

• Sound more fluent (even at intermediate levels)

• Understand conversations better

• Connect instantly with native speakers

15 Dutch Idioms You Should Know (with Examples)

Let’s break down the top Dutch idioms you'll hear constantly—and how to use them.

1. Met de deur in huis vallen

(To fall with the door into the house)
Meaning: Get straight to the point.

• “Laat me met de deur in huis vallen: ik vertrek morgen.”
  (Let me get straight to the point: I’m leaving tomorrow.)

2. Iets onder de knie hebben

(To have something under the knee)
Meaning: To master something.

• “Na twee maanden heb ik Nederlands eindelijk onder de knie.”
  (After two months, I finally mastered Dutch.)

3. Nu komt de aap uit de mouw

(Now the monkey comes out of the sleeve)
Meaning: The truth is revealed.

• “Ah, nu komt de aap uit de mouw! Je bent verliefd op haar.”
  (Ah, the truth comes out! You’re in love with her.)

4. Het regent pijpenstelen

(It rains pipe stems)
Meaning: It’s pouring rain.

• “Neem een paraplu mee. Het regent pijpenstelen buiten.”
  (Take an umbrella. It’s pouring rain outside.)

5. De kat uit de boom kijken

(To watch the cat from the tree)
Meaning: To wait and observe before taking action.

• “Hij zegt nog niets. Hij kijkt de kat uit de boom.”
  (He’s not saying anything yet. He’s waiting to see what happens.)

6. Voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rij willen zitten

(To sit in the front row for a dime)
Meaning: To want the best without paying much.

• “Hij wil altijd voor een dubbeltje op de eerste rij zitten.”
  (He always wants the best without paying for it.)

7. Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben

(To have an apple to peel with someone)
Meaning: To have an issue to settle or discuss.

• “Ik heb nog een appeltje met jou te schillen.”
  (We need to talk. There’s an issue.)

8. Door de mand vallen

(To fall through the basket)
Meaning: To get caught or exposed.

• “Hij viel door de mand toen hij niets wist over zijn eigen project.”
  (He got exposed when he didn’t know anything about his own project.)

9. Geen kaas gegeten hebben van iets

(Not to have eaten cheese from something)
Meaning: To know nothing about a topic.

• “Ik heb geen kaas gegeten van computers.”
  (I don’t know anything about computers.)

10. Maak dat de kat wijs!

(Make the cat believe that!)
Meaning: I don’t believe you.

• “Je hebt je huiswerk al af? Maak dat de kat wijs!”
  (You finished your homework already? I don’t believe it!)

11. De bloemetjes buiten zetten

(To put the flowers outside)
Meaning: To party or celebrate.

• “We gaan vanavond de bloemetjes buiten zetten!”
  (We’re going to celebrate tonight!)

12. Het loopt uit de hand

(It runs out of hand)
Meaning: Things are getting out of control.

• “Het feestje liep gisteren echt uit de hand.”
  (The party yesterday got really out of hand.)

13. De druppel die de emmer doet overlopen

(The drop that makes the bucket overflow)
Meaning: The final straw.

• “Dat was echt de druppel die de emmer deed overlopen!”
  (That really was the final straw!)

14. Op hete kolen zitten

(Sitting on hot coals)
Meaning: Being anxious or restless.

• “Ik zit op hete kolen te wachten op de uitslag.”
  (I’m anxiously waiting for the result.)

15. Over koetjes en kalfjes praten

(Talking about cows and calves)
Meaning: To make small talk.

• “We hebben even over koetjes en kalfjes gepraat.”
  (We made small talk for a bit.)

Practical Tips to Master Idioms

✅ Learn idioms in context

Memorize examples instead of isolated definitions.

✅ Use idioms actively

Practice in conversations or daily journaling to reinforce memory.

✅ Listen and repeat

Notice idioms in podcasts, TV shows, and real-life conversations. Repeat aloud.

Why Idioms Are Tricky (Common Mistakes)

• Literal translations: Trying to directly translate idioms will confuse you.

• Wrong context: Misusing idioms because you haven’t understood the subtle meaning.

Fix: Always learn idioms within full sentences and real contexts.

Real Learners’ Insights (from Reddit)

• “I learned idioms by watching Dutch TV and movies. Suddenly they made sense.”

• “Writing short daily entries with idioms dramatically improved my speaking.”

• “You don’t need 100 idioms. Start with five you genuinely like.”

How Dodo Makes Idioms Stick

Dodo’s Idiom Challenge lets you:

✅ Learn idioms through real dialogues and context-rich scenarios.
✅ Match idioms with their emotional and cultural meanings.
✅ Get instant feedback on usage.
✅ Reinforce idioms through fun, repetitive practice.
✅ See your progress as your pet grows smarter.

Key Takeaways:

• Idioms elevate your conversational Dutch instantly.

• Learn idioms within real-life contexts.

• Practice consistently—speaking, listening, writing.

• Dodo’s interactive idiom training makes idioms intuitive.

You’ve Got This

Imagine effortlessly saying:

“Het regent pijpenstelen, maar we zetten alsnog de bloemetjes buiten.”

Suddenly, you’re not just learning Dutch—you’re living it.

P.S. Ready to sound naturally fluent with real Dutch idioms?

👉 Download Dodo and start the Idiom Challenge today.
You’ll speak Dutch like a native in no time.