Example: De appel valt niet ver van de boom, net als zijn vader.
Definition
"De appel valt niet ver van de boom" is a Dutch expression meaning that a child usually resembles or behaves like their parents, often used to highlight similarities in character or actions between generations.
Translations
the apple doesn't fall far from the tree
de tal palo tal astilla
de tal pal tal estella
tel père tel fils
der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm
la mela non cade lontano dall'albero
a maçã não cai longe do pé
Etymology
The phrase "de appel valt niet ver van de boom" literally translates to "the apple does not fall far from the tree" in English. It originates from the natural observation that apples typically fall close to the tree they grow on, symbolizing the close relationship between parents and their offspring. Did you know this metaphor is common across many cultures, emphasizing family resemblance?
Learn to use this expression actively
"De appel valt niet ver van de boom" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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the apple doesn't fall far from the tree