Example: Ik stond met mijn mond vol tanden tijdens het gesprek.
Definition
"Met zijn mond vol tanden staan" is a Dutch expression meaning to be at a loss for words, unable to respond or speak in a given situation, often due to surprise, confusion, or embarrassment. For example, it describes being speechless during a conversation.
Translations
to be speechless
quedarse sin palabras
quedar-se sense paraules
rester bouche bée
sprachlos dastehen
rimanere senza parole
ficar sem palavras
Etymology
The expression "met zijn mond vol tanden staan" literally translates to "to stand with one's mouth full of teeth." It humorously conveys the idea of having one's mouth so full that no words can come out, symbolizing speechlessness. The phrase dates back to old Dutch usage, capturing the vivid image of being tongue-tied or unable to speak.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Met zijn mond vol tanden staan" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Dutch as the language you want to learn.
to be speechless