Bedeutung
Avoiding facing a difficult reality.
Kultureller Hintergrund
The Dutch are known for being direct. Using this phrase is a way to tell someone they are being 'un-Dutch' by avoiding the truth. The phrase is used identically in Flanders, often in the context of political debates regarding regional issues. Germans use the exact same idiom. It is often used in business contexts to describe a lack of strategic foresight. The ostrich myth is a global phenomenon, making this idiom easily translatable and understood in almost every Western culture.
Use it as a warning
It is very effective when used as a warning to a friend who is avoiding a task.
Combine with 'struisvogelpolitiek'
If you want to sound more formal, use 'struisvogelpolitiek' for government or corporate contexts.
Bedeutung
Avoiding facing a difficult reality.
Use it as a warning
It is very effective when used as a warning to a friend who is avoiding a task.
Combine with 'struisvogelpolitiek'
If you want to sound more formal, use 'struisvogelpolitiek' for government or corporate contexts.
Be careful with tone
Because it implies cowardice, ensure your tone is supportive rather than aggressive.
Teste dich selbst
Fill in the correct verb.
Hij ____ zijn kop in het zand.
The idiom is 'de kop in het zand steken'.
What does this phrase mean?
De kop in het zand steken betekent:
It means to ignore a problem.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Ik ben bang voor de uitslag.' B: '____, je moet het weten.'
You are advising the person to face the reality.
Match the situation to the correct reaction.
Je vriend negeert zijn schulden. Wat zeg je?
This is the appropriate advice for someone ignoring a problem.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenHij ____ zijn kop in het zand.
The idiom is 'de kop in het zand steken'.
De kop in het zand steken betekent:
It means to ignore a problem.
A: 'Ik ben bang voor de uitslag.' B: '____, je moet het weten.'
You are advising the person to face the reality.
Je vriend negeert zijn schulden. Wat zeg je?
This is the appropriate advice for someone ignoring a problem.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 FragenIt can be, as it implies the person is being cowardly. Use it carefully with people you don't know well.
Yes, it is a great way to admit you are avoiding something.
No, it is a myth, but the idiom is still very much alive.
The phrase is usually used in the singular, but you can say 'Ze steken hun koppen in het zand'.
No, the ostrich is the only one used in this specific idiom.
Only if you are describing a past mistake you learned from.
Yes, it is very common in political commentary.
Yes: 'Hij stak zijn kop in het zand'.
Yes, it is common in informal chats.
No, it is strictly for negative situations.
Verwandte Redewendungen
De olifant in de kamer
similarAn obvious problem no one wants to talk about.
De waarheid onder ogen zien
contrastTo face the truth.
Struisvogelpolitiek
specialized formPolicy based on ignoring problems.
Doen alsof je neus bloedt
similarTo act as if you don't know anything.
