Example: De kat keek eerst uit de boom voordat hij sprong.
Definition
"De kat uit de boom kijken" is a Dutch expression meaning to carefully observe a situation before taking action or making a decision. It describes someone who waits and watches patiently, like a cat watching from a tree, to understand what is happening first.
Translations
to wait and see
esperar y ver
esperar i veure
attendre avant d'agir
erst einmal abwarten
osservare attentamente
esperar para ver
Etymology
The phrase "de kat uit de boom kijken" literally translates to "to watch the cat out of the tree." It likely originates from the cautious behavior of cats, which often observe their surroundings carefully before jumping down from a tree. This metaphor captures the idea of waiting and assessing a situation before acting.
Learn to use this expression actively
"De kat uit de boom kijken" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to wait and see