in zijn hemd staan

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Dutch[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Literally, “to stand in one's shirt”.

Pronunciation[edit]

  • IPA(key): /ɪn zɛi̯n ˈɦɛmt ˈstaːn/

Verb[edit]

in zijn hemd staan

  1. (intransitive) to make an embarrassing or ridiculous impression, to cut a sorry figure, to be caught with one's pants down
    • 1888, Frederik van Eeden, “Over Schilderijen-zien”, in De Nieuwe Gids, volume 3, page 286:
      Neen! neen! — onze oude schilderkunst staat niet in haar hemd.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes[edit]

Zijn agrees with the subject.

Inflection[edit]

Conjugation of in zijn hemd staan: see staan.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiktionary.org/w/index.php?title=in_zijn_hemd_staan&oldid=72761227"