The phrase “fladderen door het kloosterleven” is a Dutch idiom that literally translates to “flutter through the monastery life”. It is used to describe someone who is not fully committed to the monastic life and who does not follow the rules and regulations strictly. They may come and go as they please, and they may not be as devout as other monks or nuns.
The idiom is often used in a negative way to describe someone who is lazy, irresponsible, or unserious. However, it can also be used in a more neutral way to describe someone who is independent and who does not like to be tied down.
Here are some examples of how the idiom might be used in a sentence:
- “Jan was altijd aan het fladderen door het kloosterleven. Hij kon nooit lang op één plek blijven zitten.” (Jan was always fluttering through the monastery life. He could never stay in one place for long.)
- “De abdis was erg bezorgd over Marie, die steeds meer aan het fladderen door het kloosterleven was.” (The abbess was very worried about Marie, who was increasingly fluttering through the monastery life.)
- “Piet was een beetje een vreemde vogel in het klooster. Hij fladderde maar wat rond en deed nooit echt mee met de andere monniken.” (Piet was a bit of an odd bird in the monastery. He just fluttered around and never really joined in with the other monks.)