voor dovemansoren

Meaning: Said or done in vain; unheeded by those it is meant for.

Language: Dutch

Literally: for deaf men's ears

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: The image is of speaking to someone deaf, whose ears cannot receive the message—hence any words wasted on them.

More idioms — Body & Senses

in zijn oren knopen — To make someone pay close attention to what you are saying, implying they should remember…
de nek omdraaien — To kill or destroy someone or something, or to bring an end to a project or endeavor.
niet op zijn mond gevallen zijn — To be outspoken and forthright; to speak one's mind without hesitation.
tussen neus en lippen door — To say something in passing or casually, without emphasis or drawing attention to it.
op eigen benen staan — To be independent and self-sufficient; to support oneself without relying on others.
voet bij stuk houden — To stand firm and refuse to give in to pressure or threats.

in de wieg gelegd zijn — To have a natural talent or aptitude for something from birth.
knollen voor citroenen verkopen — To swindle or defraud someone by passing off something worthless as valuable.
brood zien in — To view something as a viable or profitable business opportunity.
een lans breken — To take up someone's cause or defend a position publicly.
weten waar Abraham de mosterd haalt — To be well-informed or knowledgeable about how things really work.
schoon schip maken — To make a thorough reform of an organization by removing bad practices or undesirable peo…

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.