Signification
Ending up with the worst result.
Contexte culturel
The Dutch 'poldermodel' emphasizes that no one should always pull the short end. Compromise is key. The phrase is equally common in Flanders and used in the same contexts, especially in sports and politics. Being direct about losing is valued. Admitting you 'trok aan het kortste eind' shows professional maturity. Children learn this phrase early through games and drawing lots for chores.
Use the past tense
You will most often use this phrase in the past tense ('trok') because you are usually describing a result that has already happened.
Don't forget 'aan'
Without 'aan', the phrase is grammatically incomplete and sounds very strange to native speakers.
Signification
Ending up with the worst result.
Use the past tense
You will most often use this phrase in the past tense ('trok') because you are usually describing a result that has already happened.
Don't forget 'aan'
Without 'aan', the phrase is grammatically incomplete and sounds very strange to native speakers.
The opposite exists
You can say 'aan het langste eind trekken' to mean you won, though it is slightly less common than the 'losing' version.
Teste-toi
Vul de juiste vorm van het werkwoord 'trekken' in.
Gisteren _______ ik helaas aan het kortste eind bij de wedstrijd.
The sentence starts with 'Gisteren' (yesterday), so we need the past tense singular: 'trok'.
Wat is de juiste uitdrukking?
In de discussie...
The idiom requires 'aan het' and the superlative 'kortste'.
In welke situatie gebruik je deze uitdrukking?
Je hebt net een spelletje verloren van je vriend.
Losing a game is a classic situation for this idiom.
Maak de dialoog af.
A: 'Wie moet er dit weekend overwerken?' B: 'Ik ben bang dat ik...'
The speaker is talking about a present/future realization, so 'trek' is appropriate.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesGisteren _______ ik helaas aan het kortste eind bij de wedstrijd.
The sentence starts with 'Gisteren' (yesterday), so we need the past tense singular: 'trok'.
In de discussie...
The idiom requires 'aan het' and the superlative 'kortste'.
Je hebt net een spelletje verloren van je vriend.
Losing a game is a classic situation for this idiom.
A: 'Wie moet er dit weekend overwerken?' B: 'Ik ben bang dat ik...'
The speaker is talking about a present/future realization, so 'trek' is appropriate.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsNo, it is a neutral idiom. It is perfectly fine to use in professional and social settings.
No, it specifically implies there is a loser. If it's a tie, nobody pulls the short end.
In Dutch, it is always 'kortste' (superlative). German uses the comparative, which can be confusing for learners of both.
No, you must use the verb 'trekken'. You 'pull' the end, you aren't the end itself.
Not necessarily, but it often suggests that the loser was at a disadvantage or had bad luck.
Expressions liées
het onderspit delven
synonymTo be defeated or to lose.
bot vangen
similarTo fail to get what one wants.
de pineut zijn
similarTo be the one who is in trouble or has to do the work.
aan het langste eind trekken
contrastTo be the winner or get the best deal.
