Terug van weg geweest

to be back again, have made a come back Iconspeaker_3
[Dutch phrase of the week]

JohnTravolta "Weg geweest" translates as "having been away", so literally this says: "back from having been away". This expression is typically used as an empty statement to say that you are back after having been away for a while (holiday, a trip). It is also used when people make a come-back or when something becomes popular again after a long period of time.

Examples:
– "Hoi, ik wist niet zeker of je al weer thuis was…" – "Ja ja, we zijn weer terug van weg geweest…" 
("Hi, I wasn't sure you were back home yet…" – "Yeah, we're back again…")

– "'Spijkerbroeken met wijde pijpen zijn weer helemaal terug van weg geweest!" 
("Flared jeans are totally popular/common again!")

– "Wat een prestatie dames en heren; deze atleet is weer helemaal terug van weg geweest!" 
("This is quite an achievement ladies and gentlemen; this athlete has definitely made his come-back / is definitely back in the game!")

Related words:
Weg: away, gone [adverb].
Reizen: to travel [verb] [reisde, gereisd].

Example:
– "Sander moet regelmatig reizen voor het werk. Dat komt de DWOTD niet ten goede!"
("Sander frequently has to travel for work. That doesn't do the DWOTD any good!")

– Terugkomen: to come back [verb] [kwam terug, teruggekomen].
– Terugkeren: to return (back to the starting point) [verb] [keerde terug, teruggekeerd].

4 thoughts on “Terug van weg geweest

  1. You show Travolta in “Pulp Fiction.” What is the Dutch for ‘make a comeback, and then fade away again?”

  2. @Brett – I am not sure we have a specific expression for that, but you could for example say:
    – We hebben nooit meer iets van hem gehoord;
    – Hij is van het toneel verdwenen;
    – Hij is in de vergetelheid geraakt.
    🙂

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