expectation, anticipation

[noun]
[de ver-wach-ting, de ver-wach-ting-en]

"Verwachting" contains "-wacht-" from "wachten": to wait. Related verb is "verwachten": to expect. When a woman is "in verwachting", she's expecting (a baby), lit.: in expectation/anticipation…

Examples:
- "De verwachtingen ten aanzien van het Nederlandse elftal zijn erg gespannen: de oranjekoorts is weer toegeslagen…" 
("The expectations regarding the Dutch soccer team are very tense: the 'orange fever' has struck again…")

- "Ik had niet zo'n hoge verwachting van mijn nieuwe chef, maar hij valt erg mee." 
("I didn't think much of my new chef, but he's pretty all right." Lit.: "I didn't have such a high expectation of my new chef, …")

Expressions:
- "In (blijde) verwachting zijn": to be expecting. Lit.: to be in (happy) expectation.
- "Boven/buiten verwachting": beyond expectation(s). Lit.: above/outside expectation.

Example:
- "Franks presentatie is buiten verwachting interessant! Normaal is hij heel saai…"
("Frank's presentation is interesting, which is beyond my expectation! Normally he's really boring…")

- "Beneden de verwachtingen blijven": to fall short of one's expectations. Lit.: to stay below the expectations.
- "Tegen alle verwachtingen (in): against all odds.

Related words:
- Gespannen: tense [adjective].
- Hoop: hope [noun] [de hoop, <no plural>].

Example:
- "Geef mij nu je angst, ik geef je er hoop voor terug."
("Hand over your fear to me now, I'll give you back hope.")

- Wachten: to wait [verb] [wachten, wachtte, h. gewacht].
- Weersverwachting: weather forecast [noun] [de weersverwachting, de weersverwachtingen].
- Zenuwachtig: nervous [adjective].