De kat uit de boom kijken

Meaning: To wait cautiously before committing.

Language: Dutch

Literally: To watch the cat out of the tree

Category: Animals

Origin: One waits for a wary cat to climb down on its own rather than forcing it, picturing patient caution.

More idioms — Animals

• De koe bij de horens vatten — To tackle a problem head-on.
• Κάνω την πάπια — To feign ignorance; to play dumb.
• Att göra en pudel — To make a public, grovelling apology.
• Robić kogoś w konia — To make a fool of or trick someone.
• Å svelge noen kameler — To make big concessions and accept what you dislike.
• Å ha en høne å plukke med noen — To have a bone to pick with someone.

More Dutch idioms

• Iets voor zoete koek aannemen — To swallow a story uncritically.
• Met de gebakken peren zitten — To be stuck with the unpleasant aftermath.
• Een appeltje voor de dorst — Savings put by for hard times.
• Met de mond vol tanden staan — To be tongue-tied and lost for words.
• De dans ontspringen — To narrowly escape trouble.
• hoe de vork in de steel zit — to understand the real situation or hidden mechanics of something.

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