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.
yah boo sucks
jammer dan
yah boo & yah boo sucks means that you have no sympathy with someone
yellow press
sensatiepers
the yellow press is a term for the popular and sensationalist newspapers
yellow streak
angsthaas
if someone has a yellow streak, they are cowardly about something
yellow-bellied
angsthaas
a yellow-bellied person is a coward
yes-man
ja-knikker
someone who always agrees with people in authority is a yes-man
yesterday's man or woman
iemand die niet meer belangrijk is
someone whose career is over is yesterday's man or woman
yield to
overgeven aan
I tried to resist, but I yielded to temptation and ate all the ice cream
you are what you eat
je bent wat je eet
this is used to stress the importance of a good diet as a key to good health
you can bet your bottom dollar
je kan er donder op zeggen
you can bet your bottom dollar that it's going to rain when I go out
you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar
je vangt meer vliegen met stroop dan met azijn
it's easier to persuade people if you are polite than if you are confrontational
you can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family
je kan je familie niet uitzoeken
some things you can choose, some you can't, so make the best of what you have
you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink
je kan iemand niet dwingen
you can offer something to someone, but you cannot make them take it
you can say that again
zeg dat wel
if you agree strongly with someone, you can say 'you can say that again'
you can't have cake and the topping, too
je kan niet alles hebben
you can't have everything the way you want it
you can't have your cake and eat it
van tweeën een
you can't have things both ways
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
waar gewerkt wordt vallen spaanders
in order to achieve something, there are often losers in the process
you can't take it with you
je kan het niet meenemen
enjoy life and don't worry about not having a lot because 'you can't take it with you'
you can't unring a bell
wat gedaan is, is gedaan
once something has been done, you have to live with the consequences
you could have knocked me down with a feather
schiet mij maar lek
the person was very shocked or surprised
you do not get a dog and bark yourself
je moet delegeren
if there is someone in a lower position who can do a task, then you shouldn't do it
you get what you pay for
alle waar naar zijn geld
something that is very low in price is not usually of very good quality
you know
je weet wel
what some, you know, people say every other, you know, word
you planks
sukkels
planks are dumb persons
you reap what you sow
boontje komt om zijn loontje
when you do bad things to people, bad things will happen to you
you rock
je bent geweldig
You are really great
you said it!
je zegt het!
used to say you agree completely with something just said
you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours
jij helpt mij, ik help jou
if you do something for me, I'll return the favour
you what?
wat zeg je?
a very informal way of expressing surprise or to ask someone to repeat something
you're toast
je zit diep in de problemen
if you are toast, you are in a lot of trouble
you've got rocks in your head
zaagsel in je kop
someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head