Significado
To learn how to do something well.
Contexto cultural
The Dutch value 'nuchterheid' (down-to-earthness). Saying you are 'getting something under the knee' is a humble way to acknowledge you are still learning without sounding incompetent. In Flanders, the phrase is just as common as in the Netherlands. It is used in schools and workplaces across the Dutch-speaking world. In Dutch job interviews, it is very positive to say you are quick at 'getting things under the knee.' it shows you are a fast learner. Because of its wrestling origins, this phrase is frequently used by sports commentators to describe a player mastering a new technique.
Use with 'Beginnen'
Combine with 'beginnen te' to sound very natural when discussing your progress: 'Ik begin het te leren' vs 'Ik begin het onder de knie te krijgen.'
Don't use for people
Remember, this is for skills. If you say you have a person 'onder de knie,' it sounds like you are physically pinning them down.
Significado
To learn how to do something well.
Use with 'Beginnen'
Combine with 'beginnen te' to sound very natural when discussing your progress: 'Ik begin het te leren' vs 'Ik begin het onder de knie te krijgen.'
Don't use for people
Remember, this is for skills. If you say you have a person 'onder de knie,' it sounds like you are physically pinning them down.
Job Interviews
This is a 'power phrase' in Dutch interviews. Use it to show you are proactive about learning new systems.
Teste-se
Vul het juiste werkwoord in (krijgen of hebben).
Ik ben al drie maanden aan het oefenen, dus ik begin het eindelijk onder de knie te _______.
We use 'krijgen' because the sentence says 'beginnen te' (starting to), which indicates a process.
Welke zin is correct?
Kies de juiste zin over het leren van een taal.
The correct idiom is 'onder de knie krijgen'.
Match de situatie met de juiste vorm.
Je bent een expert in Excel. Wat zeg je?
If you are already an expert, you use 'hebben' (to have) instead of 'krijgen' (to get).
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Recursos visuais
Common Uses
Skills
- • Gitaar spelen
- • Koken
- • Rijden
Knowledge
- • Grammatica
- • Wiskunde
- • Regels
Banco de exercicios
3 exerciciosIk ben al drie maanden aan het oefenen, dus ik begin het eindelijk onder de knie te _______.
We use 'krijgen' because the sentence says 'beginnen te' (starting to), which indicates a process.
Kies de juiste zin over het leren van een taal.
The correct idiom is 'onder de knie krijgen'.
Je bent een expert in Excel. Wat zeg je?
If you are already an expert, you use 'hebben' (to have) instead of 'krijgen' (to get).
🎉 Pontuação: /3
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasAbsolutely! It is one of the most common ways to describe mastering Dutch grammar or pronunciation.
It is always singular: 'onder de knie.'
It is neutral. You can use it with friends, but also with your boss or in a formal essay.
'Krijgen' is the process (getting there), 'hebben' is the result (already there).
Yes, if the homework is a specific difficult topic you are trying to understand.
Younger people might say 'ik fix het' or 'ik snap het,' but 'onder de knie krijgen' is still very common among all ages.
Yes, 'onder de knie hebben' implies you can do it well and without much help.
Yes, very common for learning a new move or technique.
No! In Dutch, you must pronounce the 'k' clearly before the 'n'.
No, because watching a film is passive. You only use it for active skills.
Frases relacionadas
iets in de vingers hebben
similarTo have a knack for something / to be skilled.
iets meester worden
synonymTo master something.
onder de duim houden
contrastTo keep someone under your thumb.
de kneepjes van het vak
builds onThe tricks of the trade.
