Pleister

1. plaster, band-aid [noun] [de pleister, de pleisters] [‘plei-ster’] Iconspeaker_klein

band-24298_640Een “pleister” is what you put on small wounds to stop them from bleeding. When the wound is larger, or after surgery, the wounds are protected by bandages, which are translated by “verband” (singular). A second meaning of “pleister” is explained below.

Examples:
– “Heb je een pleister voor me? Ik heb mijn vinger net gesneden aan de rand van die envelop.”
(“Do you have a plaster for me? I’ve just cut my finger on the edge of that envelope”.)

– “De pleisters lieten los toen ze nat waren geworden.”
(“The plasters came off after they’d become wet.”)

– “Haar hoofd was in verband gewikkeld na de plastische chirurgie.”
(“Her head was packed in bandages after the plastic surgery.”)

Expressions:
– “Een pleister op de wonde zijn”: to be a consolation.

Example:
– “Turkije zal niet in de finale van het EK spelen. Dat ze zo ver zijn gekomen, is een pleister op de wonde.”
(“Turkey will not play in the final of the European Football Championship. It’s a consolation that they’ve made it this far”. Lit.: “That they’ve made it this far, is a consolation”.)

Related words:
– Verband [noun] [het verband, de verbanden]: the bandage.

2. plaster, stucco [noun] [het pleister(werk), no plural] [‘plei-ster‘] Iconspeaker_klein

stucco-500750_640Another meaning of “pleister” or “pleisterwerk’ is stucco.

Example:
– “Als het pleisterwerk goed is gedroogd, kunnen we de muren gaan verven.”
(“Once the stucco has dried well, we can start painting the walls.”)

Voorbij

1. past, over, gone, finished, done with [adjective] [‘foor-bij‘]  Iconspeaker_klein_2

“Voorbij” is a versatile word, you can use it in different contexts.

In this first context, a certain feeling of melancholy is inevitable. Check out this video of Dutch icon André Hazes (check out the lyrics here), regretting the break-up with his (ex-) girlfriend…

Examples:Turk
– “Na Oranje, is het EK nu ook voorbij voor de Turken…balen!”

(“After the Netherlands, the European soccer championship tournament is now also finished for Turkey…bummer!” Lit.: “…for the Turks…”)

– “Een x-aantal jaren zijn nu voorbij, maar er is eigenlijk niks veranderd…”
(“Several years have passed now, but nothing has changed really…” Lit.: “Several years are past now…”)

– “Heb je nog een afspraakje gehad met Linda?” – “Nee jongen, dat is voorbij, ik heb een blauwtje gelopen.”
(“Now did you have that date with Linda?” – “No dude, that’s over, she turned me down.”)

Expressions:
– “Voorbije tijden”: bygone times.

Related words:
– “Over”: over.
– “Aflopen” [verb] [liep af, afgelopen]: to (come to an) end, to finish.
– “Einde” [noun] [het einde, de eindes]: end.

2. past, by, beyond [adverb] [‘foor-bij‘]  Iconspeaker_klein_2

You can use “voorbij” as an adverb to indicate that something/someone has passed a certain (physical) location or certain point in time.

Examples:
– “Kunt u mij vertellen waar het postkantoor is?” – “O, daar bent u net voorbij.”

(“Can you tell where the post office is?” – “Oh, you’ve just passed it.”)

– “Heeft ze weer zo’n bui?” – “Ach, dat gaat wel weer voorbij…”
(“Is she having one of her moods again?” – “Ah well, it’ll blow over…”

Related words:
– “Verder” [adjective/adverb]: further, farther.
– “Achter”  [preposition]: behind.
– “Terug” [adverb]: back.

3. beyond, past [preposition] [‘foor-bij‘]  Iconspeaker_klein_2

Examples:
– “De raket ging voorbij het doel.”
(“The missile went past the target.”)

– “Frank, doe niet zo betweterig, dat soort onderzoek doen we niet want dat is voorbij de scope van dit project!”
(“Frank, don’t be such a pedantic, we will not perform that kind of research because it’s beyond the scope of this project!”)

Invullen

to fill in/out/up, to enter, to complete [verb] [vulde in, ingevuld] [‘in-vul-lun’] Iconspeaker_klein

InvullenThe
verb "vullen" translates to "to fill". You can choose from a number of
prepositions to specify the kind of "vullen" you would like to do:
"aan-", "op-", or "in-". In the case of "in" and "op" it’s easy to
guess. Look up "aanvullen" in the dictionary and "complete" this
explanation yourself 😉

Examples:
– "Heb jij je belastingformulier al ingevuld?"

("Have you filled in / filled out / completed your tax form yet?")

– "Vul hier uw naam in."
("Enter / fill in / fill out your name here.")

– "Het aanmeldformulier invullen met blokletters alstublieft."
("Fill out the registration/application form in print please.")

– "Stuur de bon ingevuld terug en maak kans op een prijs!"
("Return the completed coupon and have a chance to win a prize!")

– "Ik wil graag een klachtenformulier invullen, kan dat?" – "Nee, dat kan niet. Wilt u daarover een klacht indienen?"
("I
would like to fill in/out a comment/complaint form, is that possible?"
– "No, that is not possible. Would you like to file a complaint about
that?")

– "Ik wil eerst een algemene beschrijving van het projectplan. De details vullen we later in."
("I want a general description of the project plan first. We’ll fill in the details later.")

Expressions:
– "Vul maar in": and so on/forth, and all that jazz.
– "Een geheel eigen invulling": a highly personal interpretation.

Related words:
– "Registreren": to register.
– "Invuloefening": an "easy exercise" that requires no further thinking.
– "Invulling geven aan": to substantiate, to flesh out, to effectuate.

Example:
– "Mensen! Hoe gaan we concreet invulling geven aan de visie van ons bedrijf??"
("People! How are we going to actually substantiate the vision of our company??")

Uitschakelen

The verb "uitschakelen" can be used in different ways.

1. to switch off [verb] [schakelde uit, uitgeschakeld] [‘uit-schaa-ku-lun’] Iconspeaker_klein

Uitschakelen_windows
In this translation "uitschakelen" is most commonly used for engines, but you can use it for small devices too, such as phones. You will also hear "afzetten" and "uitdoen".

Examples:

"Als u lang moet wachten voor een open brug, schakel dan de motor uit."

("If you have to wait long in front of an open bridge, then turn of the engine.")

– "Dames en heren, wij zijn klaar voor vertrek. Wilt u alle elektronische apparatuur uitschakelen en opbergen?"
("Ladies and gentlemen, we are ready for departure. Would you please switch off all electronic devices and stow them?")

2. to eliminate, to rule out, to cut out, to knock out [verb] [schakelde uit, uitgeschakeld] [‘uit-schaa-ku-lun’] Iconspeaker_klein

Other common verbs to use are "verslaan" ("to beat (in a game)") and "verslagen worden" ("to be beaten").

Examples:
– "Toen Napoleon ook zijn laatste vijand had uitgeschakeld, stond niets hem meer in de weg."
("When Napoleon had also eliminated his last enemy, nothing stood in his way anymore.")

– "Het Nederlands elftal is door Rusland uitgeschakeld. Jammer maar helaas!"
("The
Dutch team has been knocked out by Russia. Too bad!" Literally, "jammer maar helaas" translates to "pity but alas".) 

3. to be out of circulation  [verb] [schakelde uit, uitgeschakeld] [‘uit-schaa-ku-lun’] Iconspeaker_klein

Ronaldo_uitgeschakeldA third meaning of "uitschakelen" is only used with the past participle, in case of being out of circulation through ill health or because of injuries.

Examples: 
– "Laura is twee dagen uitgeschakeld vanwege een blindedarmontsteking, en daarom schrijft Sander vandaag de DWOTD."
("Laura is out of circulation due to appendicitis, and that’s why Sander writes the DWOTD today.")


"De voetballer is drie maanden uitgeschakeld vanwege een enkelblessure."

("The football player is out of circulation for three months because of an ankle injury.")

Van een kouwe kermis thuiskomen

to have a rude awakening, to be brought down to earth with a shock [Dutch phrase of the week] Iconspeaker_klein

The literal translation of this week’s phrase is “to come home from a cold fair”. You may understand its  figurative meaning in the context of the dramatic turn of events for the Dutch soccer team, being kicked out of the European Championship soccer tournament: a rude awakening for all of us…

“Kouwe” is spoken language for “koude”, from the adjective “koud”: cold.  

Examples:
– “Door de 3-1 nederlaag tegen Rusland kwam Nederland van een kouwe kermis thuis.”
(“The 3-1 defeat by Russia was a rude awakening for the Netherlands.”)

– “Hoe kon Oranje dit overkomen?” – “Ja gozer, wie zal het zeggen? We komen van een kouwe kermis thuis…”
(“How could this happen to the Dutch team?” – “Yeah buddy, who will tell? We’ve been brought down to earth with a shock…”)

Expressions:
– “Met de staart tussen de benen afdruipen”: to clear off with one’s tail between one’s legs.
– “In zak en as zitten”: to be in sackcloth and ashes, to be in a state of despair.
– “Rauw/Koud op iemands dak vallen”: lit.: to fall raw/cold on someone’s roof: to be quite unprepared for something.

Related words:
– “Kermis” (de ~; <plural> de kermissen) : fair.
– “Koud” (adjective): cold.
– “Teleurstelling”(de ~; <plural> de teleurstellingen): disappointment.

(picture from sportwereld.nl)