Signification
To do work with minimal effort.
Contexte culturel
In the Dutch workplace, 'transparantie' (transparency) is key. If you 'loopt de kantjes eraf', colleagues will likely confront you directly rather than going to the boss first, due to the flat hierarchy. Flemish speakers use the phrase too, but they might find it a bit 'Hollands'. They have their own colorful variants like 'er met zijn klak naar gooien' (throwing one's cap at it). The 'zesjescultuur' (six-culture, where a 6/10 is enough) is a debated topic in the NL. Students who embrace this are often accused of 'de kantjes eraf lopen'. The phrase reminds older generations of the time when manual labor and crafts (like lace-making in Brabant) were the backbone of the economy and precision was a moral duty.
Use 'er'
Always include 'er' or 'ervan'. Saying 'Hij loopt de kantjes vanaf' sounds like he is physically walking off a cliff.
Don't use for yourself
Unless you are being very self-deprecating with friends, don't use this to describe your own work to a boss.
Signification
To do work with minimal effort.
Use 'er'
Always include 'er' or 'ervan'. Saying 'Hij loopt de kantjes vanaf' sounds like he is physically walking off a cliff.
Don't use for yourself
Unless you are being very self-deprecating with friends, don't use this to describe your own work to a boss.
Directness
Dutch people are direct. Using this idiom is a common way to be 'politely direct' about someone's laziness.
Eraf vs Vanaf
Don't stress about which one to use. 'Eraf' is slightly more common in the Randstad (Amsterdam/Rotterdam area).
Teste-toi
Vul de juiste vorm van het idioom in.
De baas was boos omdat de werknemers er de _______ _______ _______.
In the past tense (plural), 'lopen' becomes 'liepen'. Both 'vanaf' and 'eraf' are okay, but 'vanaf' was the primary target.
Wat betekent de zin: 'Hij loopt er de kantjes vanaf'?
Kies het juiste antwoord:
The idiom refers to minimal effort, not physical walking or lace-making.
In welke situatie gebruik je dit idioom?
Match de situatie:
This is the classic 'bare minimum' scenario.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Waarom is het project niet af?' B: 'Tja, Mark _______ _______ _______ _______ _______.'
The present tense fits best here to describe Mark's ongoing behavior.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Effort Levels
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesDe baas was boos omdat de werknemers er de _______ _______ _______.
In the past tense (plural), 'lopen' becomes 'liepen'. Both 'vanaf' and 'eraf' are okay, but 'vanaf' was the primary target.
Kies het juiste antwoord:
The idiom refers to minimal effort, not physical walking or lace-making.
Match de situatie:
This is the classic 'bare minimum' scenario.
A: 'Waarom is het project niet af?' B: 'Tja, Mark _______ _______ _______ _______ _______.'
The present tense fits best here to describe Mark's ongoing behavior.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsIt is critical, but not necessarily 'rude' among equals. It's a standard way to describe low effort.
Not really. It's for someone who is lazy or skips details, not someone who is just slow but thorough.
'Kantjes' is already plural (diminutive). The singular 'kantje' is never used in this idiom.
Yes, you could say 'de kantjes ervan aflopen' or more formally 'zijn taken verwaarlozen'.
Almost never. It's inherently a criticism of quality or effort.
Yes, very common in sports to describe players who aren't running or fighting for the ball.
It's a dummy pronoun referring to the work, the task, or the situation in general.
Yes, though Flemish people have many other local idioms for laziness as well.
Yes, 'ervan' is a perfectly correct and common variation of 'er ... vanaf'.
No, it is very much alive and used daily in modern Dutch offices and schools.
Yes, if someone cleaned the room but left the corners dirty, it's perfect.
'De puntjes op de i zetten' (putting the dots on the i) is the best opposite.
Expressions liées
met de pet naar gooien
synonymTo do something very carelessly.
zich er met een jantje-van-leiden vanaf maken
similarTo get out of something with a poor excuse.
de bloemetjes buiten zetten
contrastTo go out and party/celebrate.
half werk leveren
synonymTo do a half-baked job.
de puntjes op de i zetten
contrastTo be very precise and detailed.
