Example: De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst voor het examen begint.
Definition
"De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst" is a Dutch expression meaning that the final part of a task or effort often feels the most difficult or burdensome, especially just before completion, as in the example phrase where the last moments before an exam are the hardest.
Translations
the last mile is the hardest
lo último cuesta más
els últims esforços costen més
les derniers mètres sont les plus durs
die letzten Meter sind die schwersten
gli ultimi sforzi sono i più difficili
os últimos esforços são os mais difíceis
Etymology
The phrase "de laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst" literally translates to 'the last little weights weigh the heaviest.' It comes from the idea that the final weights added to a load make it feel disproportionately heavier. This metaphor highlights how the end of a task can seem more challenging than earlier parts. Did you know? The phrase has been used in Dutch for centuries to express this common human experience.
Learn to use this expression actively
"De laatste loodjes wegen het zwaarst" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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the last mile is the hardest