Example: De dokter houdt de vinger aan de pols van de patiënt.
Definition
"De vinger aan de pols houden" means to closely monitor or keep a careful watch on a situation or person to ensure everything is going well or to detect any changes early. For example, a doctor might keep a close eye on a patient’s condition.
Translations
to keep a close eye on things
seguir de cerca
seguir de prop
garder le contact
den Finger am Puls halten
tenere il polso
manter o dedo no pulso
Etymology
The phrase "de vinger aan de pols houden" literally means "to keep the finger on the pulse." It originates from the medical practice of feeling a patient’s pulse at the wrist to monitor their health. Over time, it became a metaphor for staying alert and informed about any developments.
Learn to use this expression actively
"De vinger aan de pols houden" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to keep a close eye on things