stoom afblazen
Meaning: (Already vivid in English).
Language: Dutch
Literally: to blow off steam
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase draws on the literal release of pressurized steam from machinery, used figuratively for emotional or psychological release.
More idioms — Daily Life
- het heft in eigen handen nemen — To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.
- achter slot en grendel — imprisoned or confined.
- in de clinch liggen — To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
- ge järnet — Exert maximum effort; give one's all.
- sätta till alla klutar — To make a maximum effort or remove all restraints in pursuit of something.
- falla till föga — To surrender one's position or resistance; to give in.
More Dutch idioms
- bittere pil — something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept.
- op zijn bord krijgen — to be assigned a task or burden.
- met de kippen op stok gaan — to go to bed very early, at sunset.
- vuur met vuur bestrijden — to counter a harmful action using the same method or intensity.
- uit de hand lopen — to become uncontrolled or chaotic.
- tussen de oren — in one's mind or thoughts.
From our tongue twisters
- 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.