When things go wrong
There is no shortage of examples of steenkolenengels making the rounds. At best, they elicit an easy-going chuckle, but, at worst, they can seriously undermine your credibility. Here are some of our favourite (as well as most common) examples:
- False friends like “actual”, “solicit”, “eventual” – or even “good day”
- Former Dutch prime-minister Joop den Uyl is said to have once remarked that “the Dutch are a nation of undertakers”.
- “The straw that broke the camel’s back” is “the drop that makes the bucket overflow” in Dutch.
- “Throw a spanner in the works” is “throw sand in the machine” in Dutch.
- This commercial by Dutch power company Eneco has a humorous take on the issue.
The websites steenkolenengels.com and dunglish.nl provide many more comical examples. Here are some highlights that made us giggle:
- I always get my sin: ik krijg altijd mijn zin.
- Make that the cat wise: maak dat de kat wijs.
- We go in sea with you: wij gaan in zee met jou.
- You are on glad ice: jij begeeft je op glad ijs.
- I know from the hood and the rand: ik weet van de hoed en de rand.
- Now breaks my wooden shoe: nu breekt mijn klomp.
- I’m not crazy Henkie: ik ben gekke Henkie niet.
- Bad luck birds: pechvogels.
- He is over the horse lifted: hij is over het paard getild.
- I have you in the holes: ik heb je in de gaten.
- There comes the monkey out of the sleeve: daar komt de aap uit de mouw.