Broaden your vocabulary with sayings with a Gouda edge

Not a cheese eater

Let's start with perhaps the most famous saying of all: "not having eaten a cheese". It means someone knows nothing about something. The expression dates back to the days when cheese was a luxury product and not everyone could afford it. Those who didn't know cheese were literally not among the connoisseurs.Today, fortunately, we mostly mean by it that someone has little experience with something. But at the Gouda Cheese Experience, you can disprove that saying straight away: here, on the contrary, you will learn everything about milk, maturation, taste and tradition.

Don't let the cheese eat away at you

Another saying our country knows through and through. It means don't let yourself be trounced or disadvantaged. The origin is simple: cheese used to be precious and bread the daily... bread. Together, they formed the core of a meal. Whoever took the cheese off your bread stole the best piece! In Gouda, you will learn that cheese is still something to fight for, albeit with taste rather than words. And say it yourself, you prefer to do that while tasting a real Gouda. Would you like a taste of what to expect? Then we would like to tell you all about the Gouda Cheese Experience!

Cutting the cheese too thick

A somewhat lesser-known but delightfully evocative saying: "having cut the cheese too thick". It means someone has been too generous with their money, a tad too greedy perhaps. Cheese used to be valuable, and those who cut thick slices showed little thrift.Nowadays, we use it with a smile. So someone who has spent just a little too much on that dinner or weekend getaway has literally cut the cheese too thick. Fortunately, this does not apply to the taste: with a good piece of Gouda, it is best to be a little generous.

She left the cat with the cheese

A somewhat older but delightfully evocative saying: "She left the cat by the cheese." It means someone is pregnant. Its origins lie in the vernacular of the past, in which people liked to talk about sensitive subjects in a playful way. The "cat" symbolised curiosity and fertility, and "the cheese" something precious to be protected.In many old village tales, this expression was used with a wink when people preferred not to be too direct. Today it may sound funny, but it shows how creative and poetic our language once was. Just like Gouda cheese itself: a tad naughty, but full of warmth and character.

International cheese sayings

Even across the border, cheese plays a leading role in language and culture. For instance, the French say "entre la poire et le fromage" (literally "between the pear and the cheese") when talking about a relaxing moment at the table after dinner. In English, "big cheese" means someone important, and the Germans say "Alles in Butter" (everything in butter) to mean that all is well:a reference to the butter and cheese that were safely transported in barrels.And in Italy, they say "vendere fumo e comprare formaggio": "sell smoke and buy cheese". In other words: selling talk, but making smart choices. It seems that the love of cheese connects not only the taste buds, but also our way of talking.

Language as a taste experience

Like cheese, language is a matter of maturation. Words develop meaning, change shape and gain new layers. And that is exactly what you will experience at the Gouda Cheese Experience: language, culture and taste literally come together here.During the interactive route, you will discover how centuries-old craftsmanship and modern experience merge. From virtual cow milking to tasting with all your senses: even our expressions take on new meaning here. Those who think learning is boring will find that a dose of humour and a slice of cheese works wonders.

Cheese wisdom for home

Inspired by all those sayings? Feel free to use them in your daily conversations. Don't just say something is old, but that it is "as old as cheese". And if someone doesn't know something, joke that he hasn't heard of it yet and invite him to quickly make up for it with a piece of real Gouda.Afterwards, by the way, you can discover even more typical Gouda words and delicacies during a visit to the Syrup Waffle Factory, where the language of sweetness and tradition sounds at least as delicious as the smell of freshly baked waffles.

Find out more or experience it yourself

Want to know more about language, tradition and taste? Then check out our page with frequently asked questions about the Gouda Cheese Experience and find out all you need to know about Gouda cheese! Or did you fancy standing among the proverbs, cheeses and stories yourself? Order your tickets for the Gouda Cheese Experience and discover how language and cheese together put a smile on your face, with an unforgettable Gouda edge.