Photo: Teodor Buhl. Meaning ✅⏰:it is almost too late; there is a high degree of urgency and action must be taken now. It expresses that you still have just a small margin to prevent, solve or save something. Example sentences: “If we do not intervene now, it will be five to twelve for this crisis.” “For that project, it really is five to twelve: the deadline is tomorrow.”🧠 Origin: 1)Literally: clock time as a figure of speech. The expression comes from the clock: “five minutes to twelve” is the moment just before an “end point”. ¨Twelve o’clock¨ functions here as a kind of symbolic boundary (last moment / deadline). 2)Figuratively: “last chance” metaphor. In many cultures, “almost twelve” is used as a metaphor for the last stage before something tips over (too late, crisis, failure). The expression is also known in other languages, including German: “fünf vor zwölf,” which points to a broader, shared European metaphor for time pressure. 3) Historical spread (without an exact “moment of birth”) It is a common expression; such expressions usually originated through spoken use, and only later do they appear in print (newspapers, pamphlets, speeches). An exact first origin (year/source) is difficult to pinpoint without targeted archival research, because the type of expression has often circulated orally for a longer period. 👤 Author: There is no known individual author of “It’s five to twelve.” It is a popular expression/idiom: it arose from collective language use, not from a single book, poem, or speech by one person. 🔎 Additional nuance (why specifically “five” and “twaalf”?) 🕛 “Five”: a small, concrete amount of time left → the feeling of not-quite-too-late. “Twelve”: a concluding point in time (end of a cycle on the clock) → symbolically “the decisive moment”.
Choosing eggs for his money.
Photo: evangelinar. Meaning: Someone makes a practical choice or compromise, often in situations where the ideal option is not available. It emphasizes the idea of being content with what one has, rather than continuing to hope for something better that may not be attainable. Context: It can be used in situations where someone has to compromise or settle for a less than ideal outcome. Origin: The expression has its roots in Dutch language and culture, although its exact origin is difficult to trace. The idea of “eggs” as something fragile or valuable, and “money” as a practical choice, is a powerful image that can be applied in various contexts. The saying dates back to the time of Charles V, when money was so scarce in Friesland that people paid for it with eggs: 32 eggs, for example, were worth one stuiver. Washing the headscarves of the rich farmers’ wives cost one egg, etc. Symbolism: Eggs are often seen as a symbol of vulnerability and value, while money represents practical considerations and realistic choices. Author:No specific author: Like many colloquial expressions, “Eggs for money” has no specific author. It is part of the Dutch language and culture and has been used and passed down by different speakers over time. Real-life usage: Example: “I want to buy a new car, but I have eggs for my money and I’ll leave it alone, so I can repair it.” Conclusion: “Eggs for money” is an expression that emphasizes the importance of practical choices and compromises in life. It shows that sometimes reality calls for a more feasible approach. 🥚💵
He dominates like an eel in a tub.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: This expression describes someone who has excellent control over a situation. The image of an eel in a tub (a type of barrel) illustrates the freedom and flexibility with which someone can move and operate within a given context. Origin: The origin of this expression is not precisely traceable, but the use of animals in metaphors is a common characteristic of the Dutch language. The comparison with an eel, which is known for its slipperiness and agility, reinforces the idea of dominance and control. Author: There is no specific author known for this expression. It is a folk wisdom that has developed and been used in Dutch culture over the years.
The eel likes to crawl in where the gap is narrowest.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning:Interpretation: This saying refers to the tendency of people to often choose the most difficult or challenging path. It suggests that one sometimes prefers situations that are complex or risky. Origin:Cultural Context: This saying is a traditional Dutch proverb and reflects the wisdom and observations of everyday life. The use of the eel as a metaphor also emphasizes cunning and the ability to adapt to difficult circumstances. Author:Unknown: Like many proverbs, the exact origin and author are often untraceable. They are often passed down through generations and are part of folk wisdom. Conclusion: This proverb is an interesting reflection on human behavior and the choices we make, often in the face of challenges. The use of animals in proverbs makes them vivid and relatable. 🐍
Baking sweet rolls.
Peter van Geest AI. Meaning:“To bake sweet rolls” means doing your best to keep someone happy or to maintain a good relationship, especially by doing something the other person likes or that satisfies them. It can also imply doing something to defuse the situation or avoid conflict. Origin: The origin of the expression is not precisely traceable, but it refers to the idea of baking sweet rolls, which is a symbolic act of creating something pleasant or enjoyable. The idea of “baking rolls” can also refer to traditional Dutch bakeries, where sweet rolls are often popular. Author: There is no specific author associated with this proverb, as it is part of Dutch vernacular and culture. Proverbs are often anonymous and have developed over time within society.
Baking narrow loaves.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: To cheat, defraud, or fool someone by representing something as better or cheaper than it is (often figuratively, e.g. in unfair deals).
If you want to eat porridge, you shouldn’t forget the spoon.
Photo: youtube. Meaning: This saying means that if you want to achieve something (like eating porridge), you need to have the right tools or actions (like a spoon). It emphasizes the importance of preparation and taking the right steps to achieve your goals. Origin:Cultural Context: This is a Dutch proverb that has been in use for a long time. It reflects the practical and down-to-earth approach to life found in Dutch culture. Usage: It is often used to remind people to be prepared and have the right tools to achieve their goals. Author: This saying is a traditional Dutch proverb and has no specific author. It belongs to folk wisdom that has been passed down through the years. Summary: This saying emphasizes the importance of preparation and having the right tools to be successful in what you want to achieve. It is valuable advice applicable in many life situations.
A dog with a bone has no friends.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: The proverb means that someone who possesses something valuable often becomes selfish and unwilling to share, even with friends. Just as a dog given a bone fiercely guards it and even chases away its friends, so too can possessions change people. It points to the selfish side of human nature when self-interest is at stake. Origin: This is an old folk proverb (16th, 17th century) with no known author. Such proverbs originated from folk wisdom and were passed down orally before being written down. It is part of the collective cultural heritage of the Dutch language.
He will dream of the goat.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: Someone is about to be punished or severely scolded, implying that they will have to pay a heavy price for something or are worried about an impending punishment. The expression is used as a warning: someone will have a hard time or receive a severe scolding/beating. The “bok” (goat) does not refer to the animal itself, but to an instrument of punishment, or figuratively to an encounter with something evil (the devil). Later, the expression also appeared as a general metaphor for a negative experience or setback. Origin: The origin of this expression likely lies with the “bok,” a punishment instrument, a kind of rack used to tie people down and punish them. In 19th-century sources, such as the Harrebomée dictionary, the expression is already mentioned as a metaphor for punishment. In old proverb books such as that of K. ter Laan, there is also an alternative explanation: ‘bok’ was sometimes a euphemism for the devil, which means that the expression can also mean that someone becomes so anxious that he dreams he is in the devil’s power.
Love makes blind, but once you’re married, your eyes will open.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: It has the humorous meaning that when people are in love, they overlook each other’s shortcomings, but in marriage they often become more aware of those imperfections.
To write oneself something behind one’s ears.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: “Learning an important lesson” or “remembering something well for next time.” Origin: Comes from the time when people literally wrote down things they didn’t want to forget, or symbolically marked them on their bodies, such as “behind the ears” — a place close to the head (and thus the memory). The image is figurative: something that one needs to remember well or take to heart is, as it were, “written” in one’s memory, behind the ears.
Where the sun enters, the doctor does not.
Photo: isnca.org. Meaning: There is a relationship between prosperity and health. Origin: Dates back to ancient medicine and the observation that houses with plenty of sunlight were healthier. This was, of course, centuries before people understood why – namely because of vitamin D production and the disinfecting effect of UV radiation.
Eating one’s bread in tears. (Eating tear bread).
Photo: Vicky Ng. Meaning: To be in great sorrow or misery. Origin: Psalm 80:6 ‘You give them tears to eat as bread and let them drink tears in abundance,’ Author Asaph.
On the path of friendship, the most beautiful flowers bloom. They are called: Tolerance, Honesty, Helpfulness, and Trust.
True friends are rare, but then again, the demand for them is low.
Photo: Brianan Tozour. Meaning: True friendship is rare.
Revenge is sweet, but poisonous to the heart.
Photo: beasternchen. Meaning: Revenge gives you a brief feeling of satisfaction, but it is very bad. Origin: Old Flemish folk wisdom.
Stay with those who listen to you when you’re silent.
Photo: Mike Heimdallr. Meaning: True friends understand you without you having to speak. Origin: Modern philosophical statement about the value of true friendship and understanding.
When the cat is not at home, the mouse cries.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: Without supervision, people or animals behave more freely and disobediently. “cries” means that the mouse feels uncomfortable, weak, or insecure, as if it cannot move freely or move properly.
When the cat’s away, the mice will play around the flour barrel.
Image: Peter van Geest AI. Meaning: Without supervision, people or animals behave more freely and disobediently.
With high (big) lords, evil is cherry-picking.
Photo: Omi Sido. Meaning: Someone is an unpleasant person, difficult to work with. Origin: Around 1350, the Bernese Dominican Ulrich Boner wrote: ‘He who eats cherries with the lords, afterwards gets the stems thrown in his eyes.’
With him, it’s evil cherry eating!
Photo: Hansuan Fabregas. Meaning: Someone is an unpleasant person, difficult to work with. Origin: Around 1350, the Bernese Dominican Ulrich Boner wrote: ‘He who eats cherries with the lords, afterwards gets the stems thrown in his eyes.’
A cat always gets back on its feet.
Photo: GoodFon. Meaning: This person has always remained unscathed, always knew how to help himself, always had luck, and always emerged from difficulties unscathed. Origin: Refers to the cat’s ability to always land feet first on the ground when falling or jumping, thus avoiding injury.
And I am the emperor of China.
Photo: historianet. Meaning: reaction to a statement deemed implausible.
She is wearing the trousers.
Photo: bonprix. Meaning: A marriage in which the woman is the dominant figure and the man has nothing to say.
To spread honey around someone’s mouth.
Photo: i-sana.be. Meaning: To flatter someone beyond measure. Origin: This probably comes from the fact that circus bears were rewarded with honey during training.
To shit one’s undershirt.
Photo: youtube.com. Meaning: To shit one’s pants; to be afraid; to avoid making a decision out of fear. Origin: Fear occasionally leads to failure of the sphincter muscles in young children.
The last shirt has no pockets.
Photo: Linen death shirt – Museum Friesland. Meaning: You cannot take anything with you to the grave.
Someone’s shirt is closer than their skirt.
Lithograph Johan Braakensiek. Meaning: Blood relatives are more important than other people.
To have the hilt in the hand.
Photo: Angelo Esslinger. Meaning: having power. Origin: He who has the knife in his hands can cut ( bread ) as he pleases.
To know how the hare runs.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning: To know how things work; to be so familiar with a situation or the circumstances that even unforeseeable developments and tricks do not obscure the view of the essentials. Origin: When fleeing from a danger, hares run in a zig-zag pattern that experienced hunters can predict to a certain extent.
To have hair on the teeth.
Photo: pinterest. Meaning: He dares to speak of himself, he stands his ground, he is strong and fearless. Provenance: Usually people give as an explanation that it is a proof of strength and courage if one has a lot of hate. This is said to have been transferred to the teeth. It is more likely that hair is an old word for sharp, pointed bumps, such as those that appear on the molars of horses. This led to the idea of strong teeth and further to the meaning: biting away. Because people no longer knew the word hair, they thought of the other hair. In Groningen (NL) one even says: to have hair around the molars and the German scholar Kluge thinks of a beard, which after all is also around the molars, as a sign of masculinity. Related to hair = unevenness is perhaps the verb bristle, e.g. to bristle a scythe = to remove the unevenness; to sharpen the scythe.
That goes below the belt line.
Photo: willingo.com. Meaning: cheating, breaking the rules, dishonest, immoral. Origin: In ecclesiastical Latin, sub cingulo (below the belt) referred to the genitals, the naming of which was rather taboo. In boxing, punches below the navel are considered unsportsmanlike.
A wise man weighs his words on a gold scale.
Photo: bodour. Significance: He thinks carefully about what he will say and is very precise in his expressions. A gold scale belongs to an exceptionally sensitive balance. Origin: Apocryphal Bible book Jesus Sirach 28:29 ‘Bind your gold and your silver together, and make for your words a scale.’
To look too deeply into the glass.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning 📝: Literal meaning: The expression refers to literally looking at the bottom of a glass, which often happens when someone consumes a drink (usually alcoholic). Figurative meaning: “Looking too deep into the glass” means that a person drinks too much alcohol, causing him or her to become drunk or lose control. It implies excessive drinking with negative consequences. Examples: “After the party, Jan had ‘looked too deeply into the glass’ and didn’t feel well the next day.” “She was fired because she regularly ‘looked too deeply into the glass’ at work.”🌍 Origin: The exact origin of this saying, like many old proverbs, is difficult to trace to one specific moment or person. However, we can outline the general context: General origin: The saying probably arose organically in popular speech, as a striking and evocative way to describe excessive alcohol consumption. Alcoholic beverages have been consumed in glasses or similar drinking vessels for centuries, and the act of drinking is inherently linked to looking into the glass. Imagery: The power of the expression is in the imagery. “Looking deeply” suggests a fixation or a repetitive action in which one tries to reach the bottom of the glass again and again. This symbolizes the constant filling and emptying of the glass, which leads to excessive drinking. It is a variation on similar expressions highlighting the dangers of excessive drinking that have existed in various cultures for centuries. ✍️ Author: There is no specific author known of the saying “looking too deeply into the glass”. Like most proverbs and sayings, it has probably grown and evolved within the Dutch language through collective use over a long period of time. They are pieces of folk wisdom that cannot be attributed to one person, but are part of the cultural heritage.
To play the first violin.
Photo: Joe Oliver. Meaning: Being the leading force, being the centre of a circle, setting the tone. Claiming all the attention. Origin: From the music world, where in small orchestras the first violin sets the beat.
To have a memory like a sieve.
Photo: Petra. 🧠 Meaning: This saying means that someone has a very poor memory. Just as a sieve lets water through and retains nothing, a person’s memory immediately lets information slip away and cannot retain anything. 📜 Origin: The precise origin of this saying is difficult to pinpoint, as many such proverbs and idioms arise organically within language. However, the concept of comparing a poor memory to a sieve or a leaky vessel is very ancient and universal. Ancient Greek philosophy: In his dialogue Gorgias, Plato refers to the soul of ignorant people as a “sieve” that cannot retain knowledge. He also uses the metaphor of “leaky vessels” to describe souls that cannot retain knowledge or virtue. This idea was further developed by Socrates. Roman period: Similar expressions were also known to the Romans. The formulation as we know it in Dutch likely evolved over the centuries and became ingrained in Dutch vernacular. It is a classic example of a figure of speech that is very direct and recognizable. 👤 Author: As with most proverbs and sayings, there is no specific author. Proverbs are anonymous and are often considered “folk wisdom” created and passed down by the community. It is part of the collective linguistic heritage, resulting from observations of everyday life and human characteristics.
He is in the evening/autumn of life.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning 🍂: “He is in the evening of life” = he is in old age, in the last phase of life (old age). “He is in the autumn of life” = he is older, in a phase of maturity and often declining vitality, but the emphasis is often slightly less “end stage” than in evening. Nuance difference: Autumn 🍂: ripeness/retrospection, not necessarily “almost over”. Evening 🌇: often feels later, clearer towards the evening/end of life. 🏛️ Origin: This is a classic metaphor that has been around in Europe for centuries: Life as a day☀️🌇🌙 ; morning = youth ; noon = adulthood; evening = old age. Life as seasons 🌱☀️🍂❄️: spring = youth; summer = flowering/vigor; autumn = ripeness/decline; winter = final phase/end of life. ➡️ This makes it a general figure of speech rather than one “fixed” proverb with a unique creator. ✍️ Author: ✅ Usually: no clear author. Formulations such as “(the) autumn of life” and “(the) evening of life” occur in many texts (literature, sermons, essays, funeral texts). Therefore, it is usually incorrect to attribute this to one famous author unless you have an exact quote with citation.
Autumn also has sunny days.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI . Meaning🍂 ✅ : The saying means that even in a less pleasant or difficult period (such as “autumn” as a metaphor for: old age, adversity, sadness, the end of something) there can still be pleasant, hopeful or happy moments (“sunny days”). In short: even when life feels ‘autumnal’, there are still bright spots. 🌤️ Usage and nuance: Often used as: comfort (“it’s difficult now, but better times will come”), putting things into perspective (“it’s not all gloomy”), wisdom about growing older (“there is also pleasure and warmth later in life”). 🕰️ Origin: This is not a fixed old English proverb with a clearly documented origin like classical proverbs (e.g. from Bible translations). It is rather a poetic life wisdom that occurs in several languages and variants, for example: “Même l’automne a ses jours de soleil” (Frence). “Ook de herfst heefty zonnige dagen.” (Dutch`). Therefore, it is likely: a modern, literary-sounding saying, ora translation/paraphrase of a similar phrase from poetry or prose. ✍️ Author: For this exact formulation (“Even autumn has sunny days.”), there is no generally recognized, verifiable “fixed author” known in standard reference works for English proverbs. It is therefore usually used as an anonymous saying/aphorism.
To live on a big foot.
Photo: Hilde Peeters en Luc Buelens. ✅ Meaning: Lavish/luxurious living, spending a lot of money (often more than necessary or wise), living with status, comfort, and expensive habits 💸✨ Example sentence: “Since he got that promotion, he’s been living life to the fullest: expensive dinners, a big car, and a long-distance trip every year.”🧠 Origin: There are a few partly complementary explanations: “Big foot” = high status 👞. In earlier times, shoes/footwear were strongly associated with rank and wealth. Those who could live “larger” (figuratively) had more resources and could afford more. Fashion and ostentation in clothing 👑. In certain periods (Middle Ages/Renaissance), striking, sometimes extremely shaped shoes were a status symbol. “Big” then does not literally refer to shoe size, but to excess and showing off. ➡️ In short: “on large foot” is primarily a metaphor for a large, spacious, extravagant life. ✍️ Author: This is a folk saying (a fixed expression coined by the people). There is no single “author” to be identified. 📜 The saying cannot be traced back to one specific writer or one definitive first publication.📌 Extra: related expressions: “Living in luxury,” “Living broadly,”“Living beyond your means” (emphasis on spending unwisely) 💳.
To stand on a good foot with someone.
Photo: pietersgilde.nl. Meaning ✅ 👣🤝: You have a “good relationship” with someone. You get along well, there’s “mutual understanding,” and usually little to no conflict. Synonyms: “get along well”; “have a good understanding”; “live on good terms with someone.” Example sentence: “I’m on good terms with my neighbors; we often help each other.” 🧠 Origin: The expression uses “foot” in the sense of “position / position / relationship.” “On good terms” therefore refers to: a “stable, correct attitude” towards someone; a “favorable position” in a relationship (such as “on an equal footing”). Historical background 📜: In older Dutch (and also in other European languages), “foot” was often used for: “measure / basis / fundament” (’to arrange something on a certain footing’); “relation / status” (‘on tense footing’, ‘on a war footing’). ➡️ “On good terms” probably originated as a figure of speech: you are “firm and good” in the relationship with the other person. ✍️ Author:There is no known ‘author’ of this saying. This is a “traditional, generally developed expression” (popular speech) that has become established through usage. Such sayings usually emerge “gradually” in colloquial speech and only end up in texts/dictionaries later. 🔎 Related expressions (same figure of speech) 👣: “on tense terms” = bad or difficult relationship; “to live on the same foot” (less common) = to live in close association; “on an equal footing” = to be treated as equals; “to stay on good terms with someone” = to keep the relationship good.
To kill two flies with one swat.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning: achieve two things at once with one action.
To sail under a false flag.
Photo: nostalgicamerica. Meaning: pretending to be different from what one is, conducting untrue identity.
To adorn oneself with other people’s feathers.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI . Meaning: To gain honour from the work of another. Origin: Reportedly, particularly brave Indians were allowed to wear a feather headdress made especially for them.
To laugh into one’s little fist.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI . Meaning: malicious gloating. Origin: The hand held figuratively in front of the face is meant to hide overt mockery.
Red thread.
Photo: M W. Meaning: A trace, a path or even a guideline. A red thread can also be a recurring motif. Something runs through something like a red thread. Origin: The phrase was adopted into everyday language from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s “Elective Affinities”: “We hear of a special arrangement in the English navy. All the ropes of the royal fleet, from the strongest to the weakest, are spun in such a way that a red thread runs through the whole thing, which cannot be unwound without unravelling everything, and by which even the smallest pieces can be recognized as belonging to the crown.” (Part 2, Chapter 2) “Similarly, a thread of affection and attachment runs through Ottilie’s diary, connecting everything and describing the whole.” (Part 2, Chapter 4) The continuous red thread in the ropes is compared here with the recurring motif in Ottilie’s diary.
To lose the thread.
Photo: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning: Getting confused while speaking or trying to explain something. Origin: This saying probably has its origins in Greek mythology. With the help of the thread Ariadne gave him, Theseus found his way out of the labyrinth of Daedalus, where he had just defeated the Minotaur. If Theseus had lost the thread, he would not have known what to do next. However, it is more likely to come from the language of weavers, where a lost thread meant, among other things, loss of time until the thread could be picked up again.
To create a donkey bridge for oneself.
Photo: gezondergenieten. Meaning: A tool for memorising or memorising something easily. Translation of Latin pons asinorum. Origin: Donkeys are very afraid of water and stubbornly refuse to wade through even the smallest watercourses, even if they could easily handle it physically (“stubborn donkey”), because a donkey cannot see how deep the stream is because of the reflective water surface. Therefore, small bridges were built for them at ford sites, known as “donkey bridges”. Analogously, a proverbial donkey bridge is a diversion or special effort that nevertheless leads faster – if at all – to the destination. Moreover, donkeys will not cross every bridge because they only put their hooves on ground that seems perfectly safe to them. They only cross bridges that offer them safety. So the “donkey bridge” also stands for safety.
Until the bitter end.
Photo: michitogo. Meaning: Persevering with something, even at the risk of failing.
Luring someone out of their tent.
Photo: Liza Johnson. Meaning: getting someone to speak their mind, provoke.
Eating with long teeth.
Photo: taal-nl. Meaning: eating reluctantly.
Walking on eggs.
Image: Peter van Geest – AI. Meaning: overly cautious action in a delicate situation, vulnerability.
Crows and pigeons never fly together.
Photo by unknown. Meaning: Like seeks like.
He will still dream of the bear.
Photo by John F.Meaning: He will sometimes think back on his actions and then regret it.
Other people are people too.
Photo: Gerd Altmann. Meaning: The phrase emphasizes the shared humanity of all people. It calls for empathy and understanding for others, regardless of differences. Cultural Context: Using dialects such as Groningen can help strengthen local identity and community. Author:Origin: The saying is a widely known expression in Groningen culture and is not specifically attributed to a single author or source. Possible Influences: Cultural Background: The saying may stem from folk wisdom or regional traditions that emphasize the values of empathy and respect for others. Literature and Poetry: Such sayings are often found in local literature, but there is no specific author generally recognized for this one. Conclusion: The saying reflects a broader cultural and social message that has been passed down through the community over the years, without a specific author.
He will dream of the goat.
Photo by Maxime Agnelli. Meaning: He will get a proper reprimand.
To get something in the wrong throat.
Photo by Luz Fuertes. Meaning: To misunderstand something in a negative way resulting in unjustified anger against someone else
Where there is sunshine, the doctor starves.
Photo by isnca.org
It is a bread-eating prophet.
Photo by Kate Remmer. Meaning: Someone who makes worthless predictions. Taken from Amaziah’s snideness to the prophet Amos. “After that Amaziah said to Amos: ‘Visionary, get out and go to the land of Judah. Earn your living ( eat your bread ) there and go prophesy there.” (Amos 7:12)
Dreams don’t come true.
Photo by Yohann LC
The man of your dreams.
Photo by Alexander Hipp. Meaning: The ideal husband.
Door Pieter
Mensenmens, zoon, echtgenoot, vader, opa.
Spiritueel, echter niet religieus.
Ik hou van golf, wandelen, lezen en de natuur in veel opzichten.
Onderzoeker, nieuwsgierig, geen fan van de mainstream media (MSM).
