The best-known Dutch proverbs and their English equivalents
The top 3 according to 186 votes from people: When the cat's away, the mice will play. · The apple does not fall far from the tree. · A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.. (Updated Oct 10, 2021.)
"When the cat is away, the mice dance on the table", "Who says A must also say B" and "Gentle doctors make stinking wounds": the Dutch proverbs everyone knows, with their closest English equivalent, from Wikiquote's collection.
Automatically translated (original in Nederlands). See the original
Top 22
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1
When the cat's away, the mice will play.
Dutch: "Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel."
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2
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
Dutch: "De appel valt niet ver van de boom."
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3
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Dutch: "Beter één vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht."
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4
There is no smoke without fire.
Dutch: "Geen rook zonder vuur."
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5
Can't see the forest for the trees.
Dutch: "Door de bomen het bos niet meer zien."
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6
Better late than never.
Dutch: "Beter laat dan nooit."
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7
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
Dutch: "De weg naar de hel is geplaveid met goede voornemens."
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8
Walls have ears.
Dutch: "De muren hebben oren."
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9
Constant dripping wears away the stone.
Dutch: "De gestadige drup holt de steen."
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10
Give him an inch and he'll take a mile.
Dutch: "Als je hem een vinger geeft, neemt hij de hele hand."
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11
Good wine needs no bush.
Dutch: "Goede wijn behoeft geen krans."
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12
The exception proves the rule.
Dutch: "De uitzondering bevestigt de regel."
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13
The best defence is a good offence.
Dutch: "Aanval is de beste verdediging."
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14
All's well that ends well.
Dutch: "Eind goed, al goed."
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15
Forewarned is forearmed.
Dutch: "Een gewaarschuwd mens telt voor twee."
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16
Barking dogs seldom bite.
Dutch: "Blaffende honden bijten niet."
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17
There is nothing new under the sun.
Dutch: "Er is niets nieuws onder de zon."
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18
First come, first served.
Dutch: "Wie eerst komt, die eerst maalt."
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19
Gentle doctors make stinking wounds.
Dutch: "Zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden."
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20
Every little helps.
Dutch: "Alle beetjes helpen."
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21
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Dutch: "Beter voorkomen dan genezen."
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22
In for a penny, in for a pound.
Dutch: "Wie a zegt, moet ook b zeggen."
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Comments (1)
Mijn oma zei altijd 'Zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden' als ik weer eens iets uitstelde. Leuk lijstje!