De toon zetten
Example: Hij wil altijd de toon zetten in de klas.
Definition
"De toon zetten" is a Dutch expression meaning to establish the mood, style, or manner in a situation, often implying setting an example or leading by influence. For example, 'Hij wil altijd de toon zetten in de klas' means he always wants to set the tone in the classroom.
Etymology
The phrase "de toon zetten" literally translates to 'set the tone.' It originates from musical terminology where 'toon' means tone or note, and 'zetten' means to set. Over time, it evolved metaphorically to mean establishing the atmosphere or style in social or professional contexts.
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"De toon zetten" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to set the tone