blijven zitten
Meaning: To be held back a grade in school; to fail to advance to the next level of study.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to remain sitting
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase pictures a student staying seated while others stand and move forward to the next grade—a literal image of being left behind.
More idioms — Daily Life
- een tandje bijsteken — To intensify one's effort or increase the pace of activity; to move up a gear.
- buiten de boot vallen — To be left out or excluded from a group or activity.
- ga toch fietsen — A rude dismissal telling someone to go away.
- niet veel zaaks — Unimpressive or mediocre; not worth much.
- veel noten op zijn zang hebben — To be demanding or to offer many critical comments.
- stoom afblazen — (Already vivid in English).
More Dutch idioms
- op eigen benen staan — To be independent and self-sufficient; to support oneself without relying on others.
- van lotje getikt — To be crazy or eccentric; to be not quite sane.
- in de wind slaan — To deliberately ignore or disregard something.
- niet veel soeps — Unimpressive or mediocre; not worth much.
- in de kiem smoren — To nip something in the bud; to stop a problem before it grows.
- voet bij stuk houden — To stand firm and refuse to give in to pressure or threats.