IdiomFood & Drink
Dutch
DutchHet sop is de kool niet waard
Meaning: It isn't worth the trouble.
Literally: The broth isn't worth the cabbage
Example: “Ik zou kunnen klagen over die kras op de deur, maar het sop is de kool niet waard.” — I could complain about that scratch on the door, but the game isn't worth the candle.
English equivalent: The game is not worth the candle
Equivalents in other languages
French: Le jeu n'en vaut pas la chandelle Literally: The game is not worth the candle
English: the game is not worth the candle
Spanish: Sale más caro el collar que el perro Literally: The collar costs more than the dog
Italian: Il gioco non vale la candela Literally: The game isn't worth the candle
Japanese: 労多くして功少なし (Rō ōkushite kō sukunashi) Literally: Much toil, little merit
Polish: Gra niewarta świeczki Literally: The game isn't worth the candle
Russian: Игра не стоит свеч (Igra ne stoit svech) Literally: The game isn't worth the candles
Chinese: 得不偿失 (Dé bù cháng shī) Literally: The gain doesn't make up for the loss
Origin: Sop is the cooking water or broth, kool the cabbage. Harrebomée's Dutch proverb dictionary (1858–1862) records it. No one has a documented explanation of why the broth and the cabbage were weighed against each other this way.
More Dutch idioms
- Helaas, pindakaas Too bad, nothing can be done about it.
- Nu komt de aap uit de mouw The truth is finally revealed.
- Met de deur in huis vallen To get straight to the point without any preamble.
- Iets voor een appel en een ei kopen To get something for next to nothing.
- De hond in de pot vinden To arrive too late — the food, or the opportunity, is gone.
- Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben To have a bone to pick with someone.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Keulen en Aken zijn niet op één dag gebouwd Great things take time.
- Voorzichtigheid is de moeder van de porseleinkast Being careful keeps fragile things, and situations, intact.
- Wie boter op zijn hoofd heeft, moet uit de zon blijven Don't criticize others for faults you have yourself.
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