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.
with friends like that, who needs enemies?
nare vrienden
treat someone badly that they are supposed to be friends with
within a whisker
op het randje
if you come within a whisker, you very nearly manage to do it but don't succeed
without a hitch
zonder problemen
if something happens without a hitch, nothing at all goes wrong
without rhyme or reason
onredelijk
if something is without rhyme or reason, it is unreasonable
wolf in sheep's clothing
wolf in schaapskleren
a wolf in sheep's clothing is something dangerous that looks quite safe and innocent
word of the law
volgens de letter van de wet
interpret the law in an absolutely literal way
words fail me
ik weet niet wat ik moet zeggen
if words fail you, you can't find the words to express what you are trying to say
work like a charm
loopt als een klok
if something works like a charm, it works perfectly
work like a dog
heel hard werken
if you work like a dog, you work very hard
work off
van je af zetten
she goes to the gym to work off her anger
work on
werken aan
scientists are working on genetically modified crops and foods
work out
trainen
she likes to work out at that new gym
work out
uitvinden
I couldn't work out all the answers to the crossword puzzle
work out
goed komen
things were going wrong for him, but it all worked out in the end
work the system
het systeem in je voordeel gebruiken
if people work the system, they exploit the state to their advantage
work your fingers to the bone
ergens hard aan werken
if you work your fingers to the bone, you work extremely hard on something
work your socks off
je in het zweet werken
if you work your socks off, you work very hard
work your tail off
je uit de naad werken
if you work your tail off, you work extremely hard
worm information
informatie ontfutselen
persuade someone to tell something they wanted to keep from you
worse for wear
tot de draad versleten
if something's worse for wear, it has been used for a long time and isn't in very good condition
worse things happen at sea
het kan altijd erger
a way of telling someone not to worry so much about their problems
worth a shot
wie weet wordt het wat
if something is worth a shot, it is worth trying as there is some chance of success
wouldn't touch it with a bargepole
ik kijk wel uit
you don't consider being involved under any circumstances
write down
opschrijven
I wrote her mobile number down and then lost it
write in
insturen
they asked viewers to write in with their opinions and suggestions
write off
afschrijven
he wrote the car off in an accident on the motorway
write out
uitwerken
he wrote the car off in an accident on the motorway
write up
uitschrijven
I wrote up the report and submitted it
writing on the wall
dat wordt helemaal niets
if the writing's on the wall for something, it is doomed to fail
written all over your face
het staat op je voorhoofd geschreven
if someone has done something wrong or secret, but cannot hide it in their expression