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).

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.

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