Signification
To get out of control.
Contexte culturel
The Dutch value 'beheersbaarheid' (manageability). An 'uit de hand gelopen' situation is often seen as a failure of planning, which is a cardinal sin in Dutch business culture. Flemish speakers use the phrase identically, though they might use 'uit de hand swingen' informally to mean something is becoming excessive in a more energetic way. In Dutch 'studentenverenigingen' (fraternities), 'uit de hand lopen' is often used with a sense of pride to describe a successful, wild night. Dutch news (NOS) uses this phrase almost daily to describe international conflicts, making it a high-frequency word for anyone following the news.
Use 'een beetje'
Dutch people love to downplay things. Saying something 'een beetje uit de hand liep' often means it was actually a total disaster.
Separable Verb
Remember that in a main clause, 'lopen' moves. 'Het loopt uit de hand', NOT 'Het uit de hand loopt'.
Signification
To get out of control.
Use 'een beetje'
Dutch people love to downplay things. Saying something 'een beetje uit de hand liep' often means it was actually a total disaster.
Separable Verb
Remember that in a main clause, 'lopen' moves. 'Het loopt uit de hand', NOT 'Het uit de hand loopt'.
Adjective use
You can use it as an adjective: 'Een uit de hand gelopen grap' (A joke that went too far).
News context
If you hear this on the news, it usually refers to violence or riots.
Teste-toi
Vul de juiste vorm van 'uit de hand lopen' in.
Gisteren ____ het feestje op de Dam volledig ____.
Because the sentence starts with 'Gisteren' (Yesterday), we need the past tense (OVT).
Welke zin is correct?
A: Mijn hobby is uit de hand gelopen. B: Ik ben uit de hand gelopen met mijn hobby.
In Dutch, the activity or situation is the subject that 'runs out of hand'.
In welke situatie gebruik je 'uit de hand lopen'?
Situatie: Je bent aan het koken en je laat een lepel vallen. VS Situatie: Je bent aan het koken voor 2 mensen, maar er komen er 20 en de keuken staat in brand.
The idiom requires a sense of escalation and loss of control, not just a small accident.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Hoe was de vergadering?' B: 'Vreselijk, de discussie over het budget ____.'
The meeting is over, so we use the past tense to describe what happened during it.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesGisteren ____ het feestje op de Dam volledig ____.
Because the sentence starts with 'Gisteren' (Yesterday), we need the past tense (OVT).
A: Mijn hobby is uit de hand gelopen. B: Ik ben uit de hand gelopen met mijn hobby.
In Dutch, the activity or situation is the subject that 'runs out of hand'.
Situatie: Je bent aan het koken en je laat een lepel vallen. VS Situatie: Je bent aan het koken voor 2 mensen, maar er komen er 20 en de keuken staat in brand.
The idiom requires a sense of escalation and loss of control, not just a small accident.
A: 'Hoe was de vergadering?' B: 'Vreselijk, de discussie over het budget ____.'
The meeting is over, so we use the past tense to describe what happened during it.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually no. It implies a loss of control which is generally negative. However, for hobbies or successful parties, it can be used in a lighthearted, 'positively crazy' way.
It is always singular: 'uit de hand'. Using plural 'handen' is incorrect in this idiom.
'Escaleren' is more formal and clinical. 'Uit de hand lopen' is more descriptive and common in spoken Dutch.
No, only a situation, an activity, or a process. You can't say 'Hij loopt uit de hand'.
Yes, very often to describe budgets, timelines, or conflicts between colleagues.
Yes, in the perfect tense: 'Het IS uit de hand gelopen'.
No, the idiom uses the fixed article 'de'.
No, it is standard Dutch, suitable for all audiences.
Use 'Het liep uit de hand'.
Parties and protests are the two most common scenarios you will hear in the media.
Expressions liées
escaleren
synonymTo escalate
uit de klauwen lopen
similarTo get out of the claws
in de hand houden
contrastTo keep under control
uit de bocht vliegen
similarTo fly out of the curve
de pan uit rijzen
specialized formTo rise out of the pan
