Fine with me [Dutch phrase of the week]
This phrase is used to say that you have no problems with something, almost as if you don’t care. Its use is informal.
Sometimes you will see/hear the even shorter "Best.": Fine.
Also check out "Het moet maar", which is used when you actually do have problems with something, but agree unwillingly nevertheless.
Examples:
- "Marc, schrijf jij vandaag een DWOTD?" – "Mij best."
("Marc, will you write a DWOTD today?" – "Fine with me.")
- "Doen we nog een afzakkertje?" – "Best."
("Shall we have one for the road?" – "Fine.")
- "Zullen we aanstaande vrijdag afspreken?" – "Mij best."
("Shall we meet next Friday?" – "Fine with me.")
Expressions:
- "Geen probleem": no problem.
- "Het moet maar": oh well allright, I guess it just has to be done.
Related words:
- "Onverschillig": Indifferent.
- "Okee": okay.
Anyone who has Dutch-speaking children (I do) knows another very different meaning of ‘mij best’. Spoken with a sullen expression it means anything but ‘fine with me’. In fact, it means ‘I don’t like it one bit, but nobody cares what I think and you’re going to do it anyway, so go ahead.’