Het ei ligt in een zinken bak is a popular Dutch saying that translates to “the egg is in a zinc tub.” This saying is often used to describe a situation where something is very obvious or easily visible.
The phrase originates from the practice of keeping eggs in a zinc tub to prevent them from breaking. In the past, it was common for people to store their eggs in a zinc tub in order to protect them from damage.
Today, the saying is used more figuratively to describe a situation where something is right in front of you, but perhaps not immediately obvious. It is often used to point out the obvious or to emphasize that something is clear and easily understood.
For example, if someone is searching for their keys and they are sitting right on the table in front of them, you could say “het ei ligt in een zinken bak” to indicate that the keys are right there in plain sight.
Overall, this saying serves as a reminder to pay attention to the obvious and not overlook what is right in front of us. Just like the egg in the zinc tub, sometimes the solution to a problem or the answer to a question is staring us right in the face.