{"id":6312,"date":"2019-10-17T11:00:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-17T11:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=6312"},"modified":"2019-10-16T22:51:15","modified_gmt":"2019-10-16T22:51:15","slug":"spreekwoorden-en-uitdrukkingen-sayings-and-expressions-12-halloween-special","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/spreekwoorden-en-uitdrukkingen-sayings-and-expressions-12-halloween-special\/","title":{"rendered":"Spreekwoorden en Uitdrukkingen (Sayings and Expressions) 12 – Halloween Special"},"content":{"rendered":"

Halloween is coming up! The pumpkin-carving fest is celebrated<\/a> more and more in the flat country I call my home. So the appropriate spreekwoord <\/em>(saying) and uitdrukking <\/em>(expression) can’t be missing. While we don’t have spreekwoorden<\/em> or\u00a0uitdrukking<\/em>en\u00a0<\/em>that are directly about Halloween, we have a few fitting ones. Let’s dive in\u00a0spreekwoord\u00a0<\/em>first!<\/p>\n

For other sayings and expressions in this series, click here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Wie bang leeft, gaat ook bang dood<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Image by Photo by Scott Rodgerson at Unsplash.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Literally: Those who live in fear also die in fear<\/em><\/p>\n

This one is pretty straightforward in its meaning. You’ll die like you lived. And if that was in fear, you will die in fear, fearing death, instead of coming to\u00a0vrede\u00a0<\/em>(peace) with it. From a Christian perspective, which is the backbone to many spreekwoorden<\/em>, this could be related to living a Christian life. If you were a good Christian, you’ll go to the Hemel\u00a0<\/em>(Heaven). If you were not, you should fear the Duivel\u00a0<\/em>(devil) and the Hel <\/em>(Hell).<\/p>\n

But I think it is perhaps more indicative of Kierkegaard’s existentialism. Geert Jan Blanken writes about this1<\/a><\/sup>Blanken, Kierkegaard: Een inleiding in zijn leven en werk, <\/em>Ambro\/Anthos B.V., 2012<\/span>:<\/p>\n

“De dood, de angst voor de dood, kan ons voortdurend leren alles los the laten. Ons laten ontdekken dat er na dat loslaten geen stilstand volgt, maar leven.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

(Death, the fear of death, can teach us constantly to let everything go. To let us discover that after letting go, it is not idleness that follows, but life.”)<\/p>\n

Whatever the exact origin, Halloween is a good time perhaps to let go of that fear, as it plays with the idea of death in a humorous way, doesn’t it? Let’s see some example uses of this\u00a0spreekwoord<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Waarom maak je je toch zulke zorgen, Wil?<\/em><\/p>\n

–\u00a0Ach, ik ben gewoon bang dat het morgen allemaal over kan zijn.<\/em><\/p>\n

Maak je toch niet zo druk! Wie bang leeft, gaat ook bang dood.<\/em><\/p>\n

(Why do you worry so much, Wil?<\/p>\n

– Oh, I am just scared that it could all be over tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Don’t wind yourself up so much! Those who live in fear also die in fear.)<\/p>\n

On to the\u00a0uitdrukking<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Zich een hoedje schrikken<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"\"<\/a>

Image by author based on image by Clem Onojeghuo at Unsplash.com<\/p><\/div>\n

Literally: to scare yourself a hat<\/em><\/p>\n

To jump out of one’s skin<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is a weird one. You jump – and *poof*, hat appears. Yet, there’s no clear\u00a0oorsprong\u00a0<\/em>(origin) to find of this interesting\u00a0uitdrukking<\/em>. Most likely,\u00a0hoedje\u00a0<\/em>is simply a euphemism for\u00a0ik schrik me een aap\u00a0<\/em>(“I scare myself a monkey”),\u00a0ik schrik me dood\u00a0<\/em>(“I scare myself to death”). But it’s cute, no? Especially during a\u00a0eng\u00a0<\/em>(scary) night like\u00a0Halloween!<\/p>\n

Boe!<\/em><\/p>\n

–\u00a0Thomas! Ik schrik me een hoedje! Jouw pompoenkostuum is echt angstaanjagend!<\/em><\/p>\n

(Boo!<\/p>\n

– Thomas! I’m jumping out of my skin! Your pumpkin costume is really terrifying!)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Have you heard or used these before? Do you have Halloween-related spreekwoorden <\/em>and uitdrukkingen <\/em>in your language? Let me know in the comments below!<\/strong><\/p>\n