Slim
Meaning: Actually means 'clever' or 'smart'. Hij is slim = He's clever.
Language: Dutch
Looks like: slim (slender)
Category: Feelings
Origin: From Middle Dutch slim, 'crooked, cunning' — in Dutch it stayed on the clever side.
More false friends — Feelings
- Stout — Actually means 'naughty' or 'mischievous'. Een stoute jongen = a naughty boy.
- Rolig — Actually means 'calm' or 'quiet'. (Confusingly, in Swedish rolig means 'funny' — a false…
- Déception — Actually means 'disappointment'. For deception (a trick), say tromperie.
- Disgusto — Actually means 'displeasure', 'upset', or 'trouble'. For disgust (revulsion), say asco.
- Brutaal — Actually means 'cheeky' or 'impudent'. For brutal, say wreed or bruut.
- Esquisito — Actually means 'strange', 'weird' or 'odd'. For exquisite, say requintado.
More Dutch false friends
- Beer — Actually means 'bear'. The drink you order is een bier.
- Big — Actually means 'piglet'. For big, say groot.
- Kind — Actually means 'child'. For kind (nice), say aardig or vriendelijk.
- Wet — Actually means 'law'. For wet, say nat.
- Elf — Actually means 'eleven'. Elf uur = eleven o'clock.
- Slagroom — Actually means 'whipped cream'.
From our idioms
- voet bij stuk houden — To stand firm and refuse to give in to pressure or threats.
- stoom afblazen — (Already vivid in English).
- het heft in eigen handen nemen — To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.