The Dutch idiom “door de bomen het bos niet meer zien” literally translates to “not see the forest for the trees”. It is used to express the inability to see the big picture due to being too focused on small details.
The idiom is thought to have originated in the 18th century, and it is still commonly used in Dutch today. It is often used in a warning or advisory way, to remind people to step back and take a broader perspective.
Here are some examples of how the idiom can be used in a sentence:
- “De student was zo gefocust op het leren voor zijn examen dat hij door de bomen het bos niet meer zag.” (“The student was so focused on studying for his exam that he couldn’t see the forest for the trees.”)
- “De manager was zo druk met de details van het project dat hij door de bomen het bos niet meer zag.” (“The manager was so caught up in the details of the project that he couldn’t see the big picture.”)
- “We moeten oppassen dat we door de bomen het bos niet meer zien bij het nemen van deze beslissing.” (“We need to be careful not to let the details cloud our judgment when making this decision.”)
The idiom can also be used in a more figurative sense to describe a situation in which someone is overwhelmed or confused by too much information. For example, someone might say “Ik voel me helemaal verloren, ik zie door de bomen het bos niet meer” (“I feel completely lost, I can’t see the forest for the trees”) to express their feeling of being overwhelmed.
Overall, the idiom “door de bomen het bos niet meer zien” is a versatile expression that can be used in a variety of contexts. It is a reminder of the importance of taking a step back and looking at the big picture, especially when we are faced with a lot of information or a difficult decision.