Bedeutung
Lacking structure or coherence.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Dutch 'Poldermodel' emphasizes consensus. Calling a group 'los zand' is a critique of their failure to reach this consensus. Dutch football analysts (like those on 'Voetbal Inside') frequently use this to criticize the national team or top clubs. In the flat hierarchy of Dutch companies, coordination is key. 'Los zand' is a common warning sign for managers. Dutch teachers use this to encourage students to use 'signaalwoorden' (transition words) in their writing.
Use with 'Rode Draad'
If you say something is 'los zand', follow up by saying it needs a 'rode draad' (red thread/common theme) to fix it.
Don't use for individuals
You can't say 'Hij hangt als los zand'. It must refer to a group or a multi-part object.
Bedeutung
Lacking structure or coherence.
Use with 'Rode Draad'
If you say something is 'los zand', follow up by saying it needs a 'rode draad' (red thread/common theme) to fix it.
Don't use for individuals
You can't say 'Hij hangt als los zand'. It must refer to a group or a multi-part object.
Directness
Dutch people are direct. Using this in a meeting is seen as honest feedback, not necessarily an insult.
Teste dich selbst
Vul de ontbrekende woorden in om de idioom compleet te maken.
Het nieuwe team werkt niet goed samen; ze hangen als ______ ______ aan elkaar.
The idiom is 'als los zand'.
Welke zin is correct gebruikt?
Kies de juiste zin:
The idiom is used for structures like arguments, not physical rooms or personal laziness.
Match de situatie met de beschrijving.
Een voetbalteam waarbij iedereen voor zichzelf speelt.
This is the classic use case for the idiom.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: Hoe was de film? B: Niet best. De scènes ____________________.
This describes a disjointed movie plot.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHet nieuwe team werkt niet goed samen; ze hangen als ______ ______ aan elkaar.
The idiom is 'als los zand'.
Kies de juiste zin:
The idiom is used for structures like arguments, not physical rooms or personal laziness.
Een voetbalteam waarbij iedereen voor zichzelf speelt.
This is the classic use case for the idiom.
A: Hoe was de film? B: Niet best. De scènes ____________________.
This describes a disjointed movie plot.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenNo, it's for a lack of *cohesion* in a system or group, not physical clutter.
Both are correct. 'Aan elkaar hangen' is slightly more common when talking about people.
It's critical, but not 'rude' or 'slang'. It's a standard idiom used in professional settings.
A 'hechte eenheid' (close unit) or 'een goed geoliede machine' (a well-oiled machine).
Yes, if a couple has no shared life or interests, you could say their relationship 'hangt als los zand aan elkaar'.
Yes, the idiom is fixed. You can't say 'losse suiker' (loose sugar).
Yes, it is common in both the Netherlands and Flanders.
Use 'gebrek aan samenhang' or 'onsamenhangend'.
Only if the flavors don't go together at all, but it's rare. Usually, it's for teams or texts.
It suggests a lack of support or foundation, as if the parts are just dangling without being attached to anything solid.
Verwandte Redewendungen
geen touw aan vast te knopen
similarImpossible to make sense of.
van de hak op de tak springen
similarTo jump from one subject to another.
een hechte eenheid
contrastA close-knit unit.
vlees noch vis
similarNeither fish nor fowl (indecisive).
