Iets met de Franse slag doen
Meaning: To do it carelessly and half-heartedly.
Language: Dutch
Literally: To do something with the French stroke
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Debated, but 'Franse slag' evokes a quick, showy flick of the riding whip done without real care or effort.
Equivalents in other languages
- Russian: работать спустя рукава (rabotat' spustya rukava) — literally: to work with sleeves let down
- Icelandic: Að kasta til höndunum — literally: To throw with your hands
- Malay: Melepaskan batuk di tangga — literally: To cough on the stairs and leave
More idioms — Daily Life
- Άλλα λόγια ν' αγαπιόμαστε — You're dodging the point or talking nonsense.
- Τρώω πόρτα — To be refused entry or turned down flat.
- At trække det store læs — To do the heavy lifting and carry the work.
- Kibújik a szög a zsákból — The hidden truth comes out.
- A o da în bară — To mess up or fail.
- İğneyle kuyu kazmak — To undertake a painfully slow, laborious task.
More Dutch idioms
- De kat uit de boom kijken — To wait cautiously before committing.
- Iets voor zoete koek aannemen — To swallow a story uncritically.
- Met de gebakken peren zitten — To be stuck with the unpleasant aftermath.
- De koe bij de horens vatten — To tackle a problem head-on.
- 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.
From our compliments & insults
- Je bent een kanjer — You're a star — a champ and a wonderful person.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) — You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
- Χρυσό μου (Chrysó mou) — My darling — a tender term of endearment.