Signification
To ask for something and be refused.
Contexte culturel
The Dutch value 'zelfredzaamheid' (self-reliance). Bumping your nose is seen as a healthy way to learn your limits. Parents often won't over-protect children from small failures. In Dutch meetings, being direct is expected. If you 'stoot je neus', it's often because you didn't provide enough 'onderbouwing' (substantiation) for your claims. In Flanders, the phrase is also used, but they might more frequently use 'tegen een muur botsen' or 'een blauwtje lopen' for romantic contexts. The phrase appears in 17th-century literature, reflecting a society that was rapidly urbanizing and navigating complex social rules in crowded cities.
Match the Pronoun
Always remember to change 'zijn' to 'mijn', 'je', or 'haar' depending on who you are talking about. This is the #1 mistake learners make.
Not for Injuries
If you actually hit your nose and it's bleeding, just say 'Ik heb pijn aan mijn neus'. Using the idiom might make people think you were rejected for a date!
Signification
To ask for something and be refused.
Match the Pronoun
Always remember to change 'zijn' to 'mijn', 'je', or 'haar' depending on who you are talking about. This is the #1 mistake learners make.
Not for Injuries
If you actually hit your nose and it's bleeding, just say 'Ik heb pijn aan mijn neus'. Using the idiom might make people think you were rejected for a date!
Use 'flink'
Add the adverb 'flink' (firmly/considerably) to emphasize how big the rejection was: 'Ik heb flink mijn neus gestoten.'
Learning Tool
In the Netherlands, admitting you 'stootte je neus' is often seen as a sign of honesty and growth, not just failure.
Teste-toi
Vul het juiste bezittelijk voornaamwoord in (mijn, je, zijn, haar, onze, hun).
Hij wilde een gratis biertje, maar hij stootte ___ neus.
The subject is 'hij', so the possessive pronoun must be 'zijn'.
Wat betekent de zin: 'Ik heb mijn neus gestoten bij de baas'?
Wat is de betekenis?
The idiom refers to being rebuffed or refused.
Maak de dialoog af met de juiste vorm van het idioom.
A: Heb je die korting nog gekregen? B: Nee, ik ___ ___ ___ ___.
The past participle 'gestoten' with the auxiliary 'heb' is the correct way to describe a completed rejection.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'je neus stoten'?
Kies de beste situatie:
It is used for social or professional rejection.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Rejection Levels
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesHij wilde een gratis biertje, maar hij stootte ___ neus.
The subject is 'hij', so the possessive pronoun must be 'zijn'.
Wat is de betekenis?
The idiom refers to being rebuffed or refused.
A: Heb je die korting nog gekregen? B: Nee, ik ___ ___ ___ ___.
The past participle 'gestoten' with the auxiliary 'heb' is the correct way to describe a completed rejection.
Kies de beste situatie:
It is used for social or professional rejection.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
12 questionsYes, but context is key. If you are rubbing your nose and pointing at a door, it's literal. In any other context, people will assume the idiom.
It can be slightly mocking if said with the wrong tone. It's better to use it for yourself or as a gentle warning to others.
'Stoten' is a short, sharp impact. 'Botsen' is a collision (like two cars). For the nose idiom, we only use 'stoten'.
It's better to say 'bij de baas' (at the boss) or just 'mijn neus gestoten bij dat verzoek'.
Yes, it is widely understood and used in Flanders as well.
Absolutely. 'Ik stootte mijn neus' or 'Ik heb mijn neus gestoten' are very common.
Yes, 'nul op het rekest krijgen' is the formal equivalent.
Usually, but it can also mean a situation (like a law or a lack of money) prevented you from succeeding.
Yes, if a team tries to score but is blocked by a strong defense, you could say they 'stootten hun neus'.
'Je' is much more common in this idiom unless you want to emphasize that *you* specifically failed and no one else.
It sounds a bit old-fashioned or like a general proverb. Stick to possessive pronouns for natural speech.
It's a bit informal for a first email, but fine for internal communication with colleagues.
Expressions liées
een blauwtje lopen
specialized formTo be rejected romantically.
nul op het rekest krijgen
synonymTo have a formal request denied.
bot vangen
similarTo fail to get what you want.
tegen een muur aanlopen
builds onTo hit a major, immovable obstacle.
