that happens regularly, that’s certain
[Dutch phrase of the week]
[dat is vas-te prik]
When something is ‘vaste prik’ in Dutch it means that something happens with a certain regularity, or something happens so often and regularly that it has become a certainty. The phrase is also used in the form ‘[subject/topic] is vaste prik’.
The phrase apparently dates back to the practice of tax collectors to carry a stick that they punctured or made small cuts in to help them determine the amount of tax paid (as a counting aid). Such a stick is called ‘kerfstok’ in Dutch (for which I can’t find a translation).
Examples:
– “Op wie wachten we nu nog?” – “O, op Frank, dat is vaste prik met hem op vrijdag, dan is hij altijd te laat.”
(“So who are we still waiting for?” – “Oh, for Frank, it’s always the same thing with him, on Fridays he’s late.”)
– “In het begin ging ik af en toe hardlopen in het weekend, maar nu is het inmiddels vaste prik.”
(“At first I used to go running in the weekends every now and then, but by now it has become a habit.”)
– “Het is tegenwoordig vaste prik voor alle professionele atleten; na elke wedstrijd is er dopingcontrole.”
(“Nowadays it is certain that professional athletes have to undergo a dope/drug test after a match/game.”)
– “Toeristen die niet uitkijken bij het oversteken, vaste prik in Amsterdam, vormen vaak een gevaar voor zichzelf.”
(“Tourists who do not watch out when crossing the street, almost a given in Amsterdam, often pose a danger to themselves.”)
– “Voor Sheldon Cooper is pizza vaste prik op donderdagavond.”
(“Thursday night is pizza night for Sheldon Cooper.”)
Related words:
– Prik: prick, prod, injection/inoculation [noun] [de prik, de prikken]. ‘Prik’ is also the Dutch word for ‘pop/fizz’.
– Prikken: to prod/puncture/pin, to inject/inoculate, to set/fix a date [verb] [prikte, geprikt].
Example:
– “Het is met werkende mensen altijd lastig om een datum te prikken.”
(“It is always difficult to fix a date with people who work / have jobs.” In this meaning of ‘prikken’ the verb is probably derived from marking a date on a calendar with a pin.)
– Frequent: frequent(ly) [adjective/adverb].
– Regelmatig: regular(ly) [adjective/adverb].
– Altijd: always [adverb].
– Zeker: certain, absolute(ly) [adjective/adverb].
kerfstuk – tally stick
I guess. Tallying is what you talk about, notching a stick/counting with, tallying.
great web site, used for 4 years to impress gf, future wife( dutch of course)
Thanks Alex, I guess I can now go and impress my girlfriend 😉