IdiomDaily Life
Dutch
Dutchover de brug komen
Meaning: to hand over money or pay what is owed.
Literally: To come over the bridge
Example: “Mijn broer moest eindelijk over de brug komen met de vijftig euro.” — My brother finally had to pay up the fifty euros.
Origin: Stoett, writing in the 1920s, says this phrase for paying up appeared only in the 19th century and that its origin is unknown. He suggests two possibilities: the tolls once paid on many bridges, or a saying about a little cart of money that has to get over a glass bridge. Neither is confirmed.
More Dutch idioms
- in het water vallen for a plan or undertaking to fail or fall through.
- zich uit de voeten maken to flee or scram hastily.
- er met een jantje-van-leiden van afmaken to perform a task carelessly, half-heartedly, or in a slipshod manner.
- met de nek aankijken to regard someone with scorn or disdain; to look down on.
- bij de duivel te biecht gaan to seek counsel or confide in someone who is untrustworthy, dangerous, or morally corrupt.
- water bij de wijn doen to compromise or make a concession in a dispute or negotiation.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Liesje leerde Lotje lopen langs de lange Lindelaan. Eight consecutive l-words, with the vowel behind the l changing every time.
- De kat krabt de krullen van de trap. A 'kr' cluster drill — Dutch consonant pileups that beginners approach with dread.
- Als vliegen achter vliegen vliegen, vliegen vliegen vliegen achterna. The same noun/verb homograph trap as the German version — vliegen does triple duty.
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