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Dutch Sayings about the Wind Posted by on Feb 9, 2010 in Dutch Language

With windmills as one of the main icons of Holland, sayings about this main source of energy couldn’t be left out. Below some of the most famous sayings that all have to do with wind, with their literal translation and with what it really means. Laughing is allowed!

Dat legt geen windeieren: That doesn’t lay wind eggs
Meaning: a business that is not lucrative

Goede raad de wind inslaan: Slap advice in the wind
Meaning: Ignore good advice

De wind uit de zeilen nemen: Take the wind out of one sail’s.
Meaning: To have the defense ready before the attack has started

Hoge bomen vangen veel wind: High trees catch lot of wind
Meaning: Important people get a lot of criticism

De wind eronder hebben: To have the wind below it
Meaning: To have control

De wind waait uit een heel andere hoek: The wind blows from another corner
Meaning: The situation changed

Ik kan niet van de wind leven: I can’t live off the wind
Meaning: I can’t work for free

Tegen de wind inplassen: Pie in the wrong wind direction
Meaning: Doing work that does harm or doesn’t make sense

De wind in de rug hebben: To have the wind in the back
Meaning: When things are going great

De wind van voren krijgen: To get the wind upfront
Meaning: To tell someone firmly the truth

Door weer en wind gaan: going through weather and wind
Meaning: Proud battle through tough weather

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Comments:

  1. ellen:

    I did indeed laugh, and your translation of these Dutch “gezegdes” is amazing. Mijn complimenten. You know so well how to explain them to English. I learned from it 🙂

  2. Peter Simon:

    Yes, very great interpretations. Don’t overdo it, though – a pie in the wind is not nearly the same as to pee against the wind. In another language, to pee against the wind means to go against the opinions of the majority. Has it got anything like that in Dutch?

  3. M:

    Dat legt geen windeieren: That doesn’t lay wind eggs
    correct meaning: a business that is lucrative