Netherlandish Proverbs
 

1 There the roof is tiled with tarts (a land of plenty; a fool's paradise; "Land of Cockaigne").
2 To marry over the broomstick (to go through a quasi-marriage ceremony; to live in sin under one roof is convenient but shameful).
3 To stick out the broom (the masters are not at home; "When the cat's away, the mice will play").
4 He looks through his fingers (he can afford to be indulgent because he is sure of his profit).
5 There hangs the knife (a challenge).
6 There stand the wooden shoes (to wait in vain).
7 They lead each other by the nose (they are tricking each other).
8 The die is cast (it is decided).
9 Fools get the best cards
10 It depends on the fall of the cards.
11 He shits on the world (he despises the world).
12 The world upside down (the opposite of the way things should be; "It's a topsy-turvy world").
13 To pull something through the eye (the hole in the handle) of a pair of scissors (to make a dishonest profit); or: an eye for an eye.

25 She can even tie the Devil to a pillow (spiteful obstinacy overpowers even the Devil himself).
26 He is a pillar-biter (a religious hypocrite).
27 She carries fire in one hand and water in the other (she is two-faced and deceitful).
28 a) To fry the whole herring for the sake of the roe ('To throw a sprat to catch a herring", that is, to sacrifice a trifle to gain something substantial).
b) His herring does not fry here (things are not going according to plan).
c) To get the lid on the head (to have to make pay for the damages; "To be left holding the bag").
29 a) He has more in him than an empty herring (many things often have a deeper significance than superficial observation would suggest; "There is more to it than meets the eye").
b) The herring hangs by its own gills (everyone must bear the consequences of his own mistakes).
30 To sit between two stools in the ashes (to miss an opportunity; to fail due to indecisiveness; 'To fall between two stools").
31 What can smoke do to iron? (It is useless to try to change the existing order).
32 The spindle falls into the ashes (the business at hand has failed).
33 To find the dog in the pot. When one lets in the dog, it will get into the larder (pot) (to have one's trouble for nothing; to come too late to prevent loss or damage)
34 Here the sow pulls out the bung (poor management; negligence will be punished).
35 He runs his head against a stone wall (to pursue the impossible recklessly and impetuously).
36 To be driven into armour (to be enraged, angered; 'To be up in arms over something").
37 To bell the cat (When one plans something which everyone finds out about, one's undertaking will turn out badly).
39 An iron-biter (a big mouth).
41 He always gnaws on one bone (endless, futile chore; or, to continually repeat everything; "To be always harping on the same string").
42 There the scissors hang out (symbol of pick-pocketing; a place of cheating and fleecing: "a clip joint").
46 Shear them but do not skin them (do not pursue your advantage at any price).