Op deze pagina kun je ruim 3000 Engelse uitdrukkingen, spreekwoorden en gezegden opzoeken, met een verklaring in het Nederlands. Het zijn de uitdrukkingen die worden gebruikt door Engelse en Amerikaanse jongeren. Zoekopdrachten die geen resultaat opleveren worden opgeslagen, zodat we ons bestand kunnen aanvullen.
Pas overigens op met het gebruik van spreekwoorden. Het is goed om ze te kennen, maar als je ze te veel gebruikt klink je net als je oma. Ook trendy uitdrukkingen kunnen link zijn: wat vandaag ziek is, is morgen sneu.
u-turn
180 graden draaien
if a government changes its position radically on an issue it's a u-turn
ugly as a stick
lelijk als de nacht
if someone is as ugly as a stick, they are very ugly indeed
ugly duckling
lelijk eendje
a child who shows little promise, but who develops later into a real talent or beauty
uncalled for
moet dat nou?
if someone does something bad without consideration for another's feelings
uncharted waters
onbekend terrein
if you're in uncharted waters, you are in a situation that is unfamiliar to you
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is the government of the USA
under a cloud
onder verdenking
if someone is suspected of having done something wrong, they are under a cloud
under false colours
onder valse voorwendselen
if someone does something under false colours, they pretend to be something they are not
under fire
onder vuur
if someone is being attacked and criticised heavily, they are under fire
under lock and key
achter slot en grendel
if something is under lock and key, it is stored very securely
under the radar
niet opmerken
if something slips under the radar, it isn't detected or noticed
under the table
onder tafel
bribes or illegal payments are often described as money under the table
under the weather
jezelf niet lekker voelen
if you are feeling a bit ill, sad or lack energy, you are under the weather
under the wire
op het laatste moment
if a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment
under your breath
fluisteren
if you say something under your breath, you whisper or say it very quietly
under your nose
onder je neus
if something happens right in front of you it happens under your nose
under your skin
irriteren
if someone gets under your skin, they really annoy you
under your thumb
onder je duim
someone who is manipulated by another person is under his or her thumb
up a river without a paddle
roeien met de riemen die je hebt
you are in an unfortunate situation and with none of the resources to remedy the matter
up and running
naar behoren functioneren
when something is operating normally
up for grabs
voor het grijpen
if something is up for grabs, it is available and whoever is first will get it
up in the air
in de lucht hangen
if a matter is up in the air, no decision has been made and there is uncertainty about it
up the creek
zwaar in de problemen zitten
if someone or something is up the creek, they are in real trouble
up the duff
zwanger
if a woman is up the duff, she's pregnant
up the spout
verkeerd gaan
if something has gone up the spout, it has gone wrong or been ruined
up the stick
zwanger
if a woman is up the stick, she's pregnant
up the wall
verschrikkelijk boos
if someone goes up the wall, they get very angry
up to scratch
niet aan de gewenste standaard voldoen
if something doesn't come up to scratch, it doesn't meet the standard required
up to snuff
niet aan de gewenste standaard voldoen
if something isn't up to snuff, it doesn't meet the standard expected
up to speed
iemand bijpraten
if you bring someone up to speed, you update them on something