Short phrases to describe situations in Dutch

In conversations in Dutch, you often hear short sentences. These might be responses or brief comments, for example. They are spoken quickly, but if you do not understand them, it is difficult to respond appropriately.

Some phrases have a figurative meaning. This means that the words mean something other than what is literally written. That is why it is useful to know what these phrases mean.

In your daily life, you encounter all sorts of situations. Sometimes things go well, sometimes they do not, and sometimes there is nothing you can do about it.

In Dutch, people often use short phrases to describe a situation quickly. These phrases allow you to clearly say whether something is positive, neutral or negative. This helps you respond more effectively and understand what others mean.

Dutch people often use these phrases when things are going well. For example, when a plan is going smoothly, when you are lucky, or when things are going better than you expected. These short phrases allow you to quickly convey that the situation is positive.

‘Het werkt!’ (It is working)

Meaning: It does what it is supposed to do. You use this when something finally works properly or when a solution proves effective.

Example: ‘Ik heb de router opnieuw opgestart. Het werkt!’ (I have restarted the router. It is working!)

‘Het loopt goed.’ (It is going well)

Meaning: Everything is going according to plan. You use this phrase when a plan, task or situation is going smoothly and there are no problems.

Example: ‘De voorbereidingen voor de reis lopen goed. We hebben alles al geregeld.’ (Preparations for the trip are going well. We have already sorted everything out.)

‘Dat is een meevaller.’ (That is a stroke of luck)

Meaning: Things turn out better than you expected. You use this phrase when you have unexpected good fortune, for example with money, time, or a problem that is not as bad as you feared.

Example: ‘Ik dacht dat ik een boete zou krijgen, maar ik kreeg alleen een waarschuwing. Dat is een meevaller.’ (I thought I was going to get a fine, but I only got a warning. That is a stroke of luck.)

‘Dat gaat de goede kant op.’ (Things are moving in the right direction)

Meaning: Things are looking up. You use this phrase when you see progress and feel that everything will turn out all right.

Example: ‘Eerst was het lastig, maar nu begrijp ik de lessen beter. Dat gaat de goede kant op.’ (It was difficult at first, but now I understand the lessons better. Things are moving in the right direction.)

‘Het loopt als een trein.’ (It is running like clockwork)

Meaning: Something is going very well and quickly, without any problems. You use this when a plan, project or situation is going smoothly.

Example: ‘De voorbereiding gaat geweldig. Alles is geregeld en iedereen werkt mee. Het loopt als een trein.’ (The preparations are going really well. Everything is sorted and everyone is pitching in. It is running like clockwork.)

‘Het loopt als een tierelier.’ (It is going great guns)

Meaning: Things are going really well and quickly. You use this when things are going smoothly and there are hardly any problems. It sounds informal and cheerful.

Example: ‘Sinds we een nieuw systeem gebruiken, gaat het werk veel sneller. Het loopt als een tierelier.’ (Since we started using the new system, the work has been going much faster. It is going great guns.)

‘Het gaat van een leien dakje.’ (It is going like a dream)

Meaning: Something is going easily and smoothly, without any problems. You use this when something goes better than you expected.

Example: ‘I was nervous about the interview, but it went like a dream.’

‘Het gaat gesmeerd/ Het loopt gesmeerd.’ (Everything is going smoothly)

Meaning: Something is going very smoothly and without a hitch. You use this when everything is well organised and moving quickly.

Example: ‘We hebben alles goed voorbereid, dus de vergadering liep gesmeerd.’ (We had prepared everything thoroughly, so the meeting went smoothly.)

‘Eind goed, al goed.’ (All’s well that ends well)

Meaning: If things turn out well in the end, all is well, even if there were problems or stress along the way.

Example: ‘We misten bijna de trein, maar we haalden hem net op tijd. Eind goed, al goed.’ (We almost missed the train, but we caught it just in time. All’s well that ends well.)

Dutch people often use these phrases when they want to describe a situation in a calm and neutral way. For example, to explain how something works, what the rules are, or that you accept something as it is.

‘Zo werkt het.’ (Here is how it works)

Meaning: This is how a system, rule or situation works. You use this to explain something briefly and clearly.

Example: ‘Je moet eerst online een afspraak maken. Zo werkt het.’ (You must first book an appointment online. Here is how it works.)

‘Het is wat het is.’ (It is what it is)

Meaning: You accept the situation, even though you find it a shame. You say this when there is nothing more you can do about it.

Example: ‘De afspraak gaat niet door. Het is wat het is.’ (The appointment is off. It is what it is.)

‘Dat doet er niet toe.’ (It does not matter)

Meaning: It does not matter. You use this to say that something makes no difference or that you do not want to make a fuss about it.

Example: ‘Of het 5 of 10 minuten duurt, dat doet er niet toe.’ (Whether it takes 5 or 10 minutes, it does not matter.)

‘Dat hoort erbij.’ (That is all part of the process)

Meaning: This is normal in this situation. You say this when something is part and parcel of an activity or period, even if it is sometimes a nuisance. It means: this is just part of the way things are.

Example: ‘Nederlands leren is soms moeilijk en je maakt fouten. Dat hoort erbij.’ (Learning Dutch can be difficult at times, and you will make mistakes. That is all part of the process.)

‘Daar moet je rekening mee houden.’ (You need to bear this in mind)

Meaning: You need to think it through and prepare for it. You say this as a warning or piece of advice, because something might affect your plans.

Example: ‘In de spits is het vaak druk op de weg. Daar moet je rekening mee houden als je op tijd wilt zijn.’ (The roads are often busy during rush hour. You need to bear this in mind if you want to arrive on time.)

‘Het is nu eenmaal zo.’ (That is just the way it is)

Meaning: It is what it is. You use this phrase when you accept a situation and cannot or do not want to change it. Sometimes it can also sound a bit stern: these are the rules.

Example: ‘Ik weet dat het niet leuk is, maar de winkel sluit om 18:00. Het is nu eenmaal zo.’ (I know it is not ideal, but the shop closes at 18:00. That is just the way it is.

'Er is niets aan te doen.' (There is nothing to be done about it)

Meaning: You cannot change it or fix it. You use this when you have to accept that something is the way it is. Sometimes it sounds a bit harsh or final.

Example: 'Ik snap dat u het vervelend vindt, maar er is niets aan te doen.' (I understand that you find this annoying, but there is nothing we can do about it.)

Example: 'Je kunt het er niet mee eens zijn, maar er is niets aan te doen.' (You may not agree with it, but there is nothing you can do about it.)

‘Zo zit het.’ (That is how it is)

Meaning: These are the rules, or this is the situation. You use this when you are explaining something and want to clearly summarise how the situation works.

Example: ‘Je krijgt pas geld terug na 2 weken. Zo zit het.’ (You will not get your money back for another two weeks. That is how it is.)

‘Daar komt het van.’ (That is why)

Meaning: This is the cause or reason for something. You use this phrase when explaining why something happens.

Example: ‘Je bent zo moe omdat je laat naar bed ging. Daar komt het van.’ (You are so tired because you went to bed late. That is why.)

‘Het is niet anders.’ (That is just the way it is)

Meaning: You accept that something is the way it is, even though you regret it. You say this when there is nothing you can do about it and you want to move on.

Example: ‘De bus rijdt vandaag niet. Het is niet anders.’ (The bus is not running today. That is just the way it is.)

‘Het zij zo.’ (So be it)

Meaning: You accept something, even though you regret it. You use this when you want to move on without arguing.

Example: ‘Het regent, dus we gaan niet naar het park. Het zij zo.’ (It is raining, so we are not going to the park. So be it.)

‘Zo gaat dat soms.’ (That is how it goes sometimes)

Meaning: Sometimes things just happen that way. You say this to reassure someone or to put things into perspective.

Example: ‘Je hebt de bus gemist. Zo gaat dat soms.’ (You missed the bus. That is how it goes sometimes.)

Dutch people often use these phrases when things do not go as planned or go wrong. For example, if you are unlucky, if something does not work out, or if a situation turns out worse than you had hoped. They allow you to state clearly and concisely that the situation is negative.

‘Dat kan gebeuren.’ (These things happen)

Meaning: It is not a big deal. These things happen. You say this to reassure someone when something goes wrong.

Example: ‘Je hebt een fout gemaakt. Dat kan gebeuren.’ (You made a mistake. These things happen.)

‘Je kunt er niks aan doen.’ (It is not your fault)

Meaning: It is not your fault. You say this to reassure someone when something goes wrong.

Example: ‘Je trein had vertraging. Je kunt er niks aan doen.’ (Your train was delayed. It is not your fault.)

‘Dat schiet niet op.’ (This is not getting us anywhere)

Meaning: Things are moving too slowly or there is little progress. You say this when something is not moving any faster and you are getting impatient.

Example: ‘We have been waiting for 30 minutes. This is not getting us anywhere.’

‘Het zit tegen.’ (Things are not going my way)

Meaning: You are having a run of bad luck; things are going wrong. You use this when several unpleasant things happen.

Example: ‘First I miss the bus, and then it starts raining. Things are not going my way.’

‘Dat valt tegen.’ (It is taking longer than expected)

Meaning: It is actually harder or worse than you thought. You use this when you are disappointed.

Example: ‘Ik dacht dat ik snel klaar zou zijn, maar dat valt tegen.’ (I thought I would be done in no time, but it is taking longer than expected.)

'Als het zo moet' (If that is the way it has to be)

Meaning: You accept something, but you do not really like it or think it is not fair. You say this when you do something reluctantly, simply because that is the way it is.

Example: 'Oké, ik moet het formulier opnieuw invullen. Als het zo moet!' (Right, I will have to fill the form in again. If that is the way it has to be!)

‘Dat loopt mis.’ (It is going to end badly)

Meaning: Things will go wrong or will not end well. You use this phrase when you think a situation will turn out badly unless you do something to change it.

Example: ‘Als we zo blijven praten, krijgen we ruzie. Dat loopt mis.’ (If we carry on talking like this, we will end up arguing. It is going to end badly.)

‘Dat gaat de verkeerde kant op.’ (This is going in the wrong direction)

Meaning: The situation is getting worse. You use this phrase when you realise that something is not going well and that it could cause problems. You often say this as a warning, so that someone stops in time or makes a change.

Example: ‘We praten steeds harder en niemand luistert meer. Dit gaat de verkeerde kant op.’ (We are talking louder and louder, and nobody is listening anymore. This is going in the wrong direction.)

‘Dat valt mij zwaar.’ (It is hard for me to take)

Meaning: Something is difficult or upsetting to hear or experience. You use this phrase when something affects someone emotionally or has a significant impact.

Example: ‘Het nieuws dat zijn moeder ziek is, valt mij zwaar.’ (The news that his mother is ill is hard for me to take.)

Want to understand the Dutch language better? Then also learn expressions and proverbs. These are very important in the Netherlands and are often used in conversations.

If you do not understand a phrase, ask for clarification. For example, ask whether someone means it literally or figuratively. Also pay attention to the situation and context.

Keep practising and do not be afraid to make mistakes. This way you will learn more step by step. Also check out our RefugeeHelp platform to learn more about the Dutch language and culture.