IdiomFood & DrinkDutch

ergens brood in zien

Meaning: To view something as a viable or profitable business opportunity.

Literally: To see bread in

Example: “De bank zag geen brood in haar plan voor een kattencafé.” — The bank didn't think her cat café plan could make money.

Origin: Brood (bread) has long stood for one's livelihood in Dutch, as in zijn brood verdienen (to earn one's bread). Seeing bread in something is seeing a living, a way to make money, in it. No particular story or first use is documented.

More idioms — Food & Drink

More Dutch idioms

  • iets in je oren knopen To make someone pay close attention to what you are saying, implying they should remember…
  • een lans breken To take up someone's cause or defend a position publicly.
  • de nek omdraaien To kill or destroy someone or something, or to bring an end to a project or endeavor.
  • schoon schip maken To make a thorough reform of an organization by removing bad practices or undesirable peo…
  • om zeep helpen To kill or eliminate someone.
  • gaten schieten in To criticize someone or something harshly by pointing out flaws or contradictions.

Explore another collection: False Friends

Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

  • 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.

Browse all false friends →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →