Dutcheen loopje nemen
Meaning: to deceive or trick someone.
Literally: To take a little run with someone
Example: “Mijn oom nam een loopje met me en zei dat de school dicht was.” — My uncle pulled my leg and said the school was closed.
English equivalent: To pull someone's leg
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: Tomar el pelo Literally: To take someone's hair
German: jemandem einen Bären aufbinden Literally: To tie a bear to someone
English: pull someone's leg
Welsh: Tynnu blewyn o drwyn Literally: To pull a hair from the nose
French: Se payer la tête de quelqu'un Literally: To treat oneself to someone's head
Origin: Stoett defines een loopje met iemand nemen as fooling or hoaxing someone, and explains it as running off with someone: leading them along, like German einen am Narrenseil führen (to lead someone on the fool's rope). It is recorded in Harrebomée's 19th-century proverb dictionary. Today it is also used for taking liberties with something, as in een loopje nemen met de waarheid (to play fast and loose with the truth).
More Dutch idioms
- roet in het eten gooien to spoil or ruin a plan, event, or situation by introducing an unwelcome disruption.
- voor dovemansoren Said or done in vain; unheeded by those it is meant for.
- knollen voor citroenen verkopen To swindle or defraud someone by passing off something worthless as valuable.
- ergens brood in zien To view something as a viable or profitable business opportunity.
- iets in je oren knopen To make someone pay close attention to what you are saying, implying they should remember…
- de nek omdraaien To kill or destroy someone or something, or to bring an end to a project or endeavor.
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