Sure, you can order a pommes-frites with curry ketchup and pronounce Dries Van Noten's name without a hitch. But can you really get by in Belgium? Our Slang Dictionary will make sure of it.
Have you ever wanted to get out of a social obligation so badly that you considered sending your pet instead? If you “send your cat” in Flanders, it means you didn’t show up somewhere you were expected. Similarly, the expression “er is geen kat komen opdagen” (literally: not a single cat showed up) means “almost no one came.” You know you’ve failed if even the cats don’t want to turn up at your DJ night.
Example: This is the third time we’re supposed to meet and he hasn’t showed up! / Da’s al de derde keer dat we afspreken en hij zijn kat stuurt!![]()
Have you ever wanted to get out of a social obligation so badly that you considered sending your pet instead? If you “send your cat” in Flanders, it means you didn’t show up somewhere you were expected. Similarly, the expression “er is geen kat komen opdagen” (literally: not a single cat showed up) means “almost no one came.” You know you’ve failed if even the cats don’t want to turn up at your DJ night.
Example: This is the third time we’re supposed to meet and he hasn’t showed up! / Da’s al de derde keer dat we afspreken en hij zijn kat stuurt!
