Als klap op de vuurpijl

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to crown/top/cap it all Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[als klap op de vuur-pijl]

Vuurwerk A "vuurpijl" literally translates as "fire arrow" and is the general name for the aerial shells that the Dutch typically like to fire off on New Year's eve. The "klap" is what follows the flash; the "bang", the crowning touch. At least that is my guess, explanations differ 🙂 This phrase is typically used to close off a positive sequence of events but you can also use it when things are not going your way.

Examples:
– "Ik heb onlangs een nieuwe auto gewonnen, mag een jaar lang gratis tanken en als klap op de vuurpijl hoef ik niet eens wegenbelasting te betalen!" 
("Recently I have won a new car, I get gas/petrol for free for a year, and to top it all: I don't even have to pay road tax!" Note the verb 'tanken': to fill up, refuel.)

– "Een collegaatje van mij heeft net een promotie gekregen, met haar vriend een huis gekocht en als klap op de vuurpijl gaat ze een jaar op wereldreis!" 
("A colleague of mine just got a promotion, she has bought a house with her boyfriend and to crown it all she is going to travel the world for a year!" Lit. 'wereldreis' is a trip around the world.)

– "Vanochtend had ik een sollicitatiegesprek en ik had al slecht geslapen, en toen bleek mijn pak vies te zijn en als klap op de vuurpijl miste ik ook nog mijn trein!" 
("This morning I had a job interview and I had already slept badly, and then my suit turned out to be dirty and to top it all I also missed my train!")

Related words:
– Knallen: to bang [verb] [knalde, geknald]. Sometimes used as slang for 'to have sex'.
– Vuur: fire [noun] [het vuur, de vuren].
– Vuurwerk: fireworks [noun] [het vuurwerk, <no plural>].

8 thoughts on “Als klap op de vuurpijl”

  1. I love learning from you guys 🙂 Specially on how to use words and not just the translations. So, why don’t you have “Genieten” yet!? 🙁 hehe, was looking how to use it 🙂 found some but would be nice to have it here too. Dunno where to request, so here I do so XD sorry if wrong place, I really wanted to learn how to use that word properly ^^

  2. Hi Marisabel – glad to hear that you are enjoying the DWOTD 🙂
    I’ll make a note of your request, it’s a good word for a DWOTD.
    Groetjes!

  3. Groeten van Ontario! Is there a problem with the audio at your end? I have now gotten one of my boys (age 22) hooked on the site and the audio is part of his learning experience. BTW, my favourite Dutch word? Gezellig! No translation can match the feeling of this word!
    Prettig dag!

  5. First of all, great site! Although I am Dutch, it’s always funny to see your own language from a different perspective. And you describe it very well!
    But to the point:
    Under related words, it is indicated that there is no pural for Vuur, but actually there is. Eén vuur, twee vuren.
    Regards,
    Matijs de Haard
    3DIMERCE.com

  6. Hoi Matijs, bedankt, je hebt helemaal gelijk! Ik heb het aangepast.
    “Haard” is ook een leuk woord trouwens 😉

  7. Vuren is also the name of a little village, near Gorinchem. The only reason I know this is my wonderful Dutch boyfriend lives there. I’m an American trying my best to learn as much Nederlands as I can, and this site is a great help. Thank you!

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