Getting your sin

Another Dunglish book has been published just in time for Saint Nicholas and Christmas! “I always get my sin”, which is Dunglish for “I always get my way”, is a book of literally translated expressions and business blunders that Dutch people make when they speak English. As ex CEO of Heineken, I can just imagine what author Maarten H. Rijkens has had to listen to over the years. You can buy this book by clicking on the link. Even I plan to do so!


I always get my sin
Rijkens, M.
“I do not want to fall with the door in house”
“How do you do and how do you do your wife?”
“May I thank your cock for the lovely dinner?”

12 Responses to “Getting your sin”

  1. Hans says:

    I haven’t read the book yet, although I will buy a copy. I wonder if this sentence is in it. The Dutch Prime minister Kok (!!!) once explained a law to the international community. He said “It is so complicated that we cannot see the wood through the trees”….

  2. Natashka says:

    ๐Ÿ™‚

    This site records all kinds of messed up Dutch expressions:
    http://www.contaminatie.nl/

  3. yes says:

    All the noses in the same direction? *grins*

  4. youlike . nl » Blog Archive » Where dutch and english colide … says:

    […] Dunglish ยป Getting your sin Via: Pimp […]

  5. Rinus says:

    I haven’t laughed this much in quite a while.
    You must be Dutch though with international experience or a foreigner who knows Dutch to appreciate the book.
    My American friends did not always get it.

  6. Hilde says:

    I just got this book and had a giggle at the first few pages. I think I’ll save the rest for a day full of depressive thoughts ๐Ÿ˜‰

  7. John & Tini says:

    This is an excellent book….although you need to have an understanding of both Dutch and English to appreciate the humour.

    My wife (Tini) is Dutch and I (John) am English but we have lived in both countries. Tini regularly produces these kind of humerous quotes quite naturally.

    e.g. When proposing a toast at a dinner once she wanted to say “op jou”; but it came out as “Up Yours”!!

    On another occasion she was recommending to some friends that they should use flyscreens on their open doors to keep out flys,wasps etc. She wanted to say that in Holland we use “een hor in het raam” but it came out as “why don’t you put a whore in the window?” !!

  8. Ed says:

    Just one word; ROFL!

  9. Marieke says:

    Some dutch professors trying to speak english:

    -“you can’t shave them all over one comb”,
    -“When you burn yourself you might get bladders” (tja… blaas/blister/bladder….hmmmm)

  10. Jari says:

    Well i am dutch and i laughed my ass of too ๐Ÿ˜‰

  11. Msema Kweli says:

    This book is indeed hilarious.
    The author ought to have considered a third sentence for every entry, containing the proper English phrase. That would have not only helped the Dutch reader, but would have increased readership and appreciation beyond the Dutch speaking people.

  12. Richie says:

    I have my boat in Holland, and have called it ‘Got My Sin’ – because I really did have to get my way vs the her indoors, who thinks it’s way too much hassle!!! I won’t sell it as long as I still have a spare kidney that could go first…(!)

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