Learn Hardcore Dutch: Figuurlijk gezien probeer ik de waarheid onder het stof vandaan te halen. - Figuratively, I try to bring the truth out from under the dust.

It literally means figuratively speaking or in a figurative sense. This adverbial phrase signals that what follows is metaphorical rather than literal.

Why does probeer come before ik in this sentence?

Dutch follows the V2 (verb-second) rule. When you start a sentence with an adverbial phrase like figuurlijk gezien, the finite verb (probeer) must occupy the second position. The subject (ik) then follows the verb.

Is gezien necessary? Could we just say figuurlijk probeer ik?

While you might hear figuurlijk alone in informal speech, figuurlijk gezien is the standard way to form a participial adverbial. Gezien (“seen/considered”) makes the phrase feel complete and clearly marks “figuratively speaking.” Dropping it can sound abrupt or colloquial.

What does onder het stof vandaan halen literally translate to?

Word-for-word it breaks down as:

onder = under
het stof = the dust
vandaan = from it
halen = to fetch/get

So literally “to fetch/get from under the dust.” Figuratively it means “to uncover” or “to reveal something hidden.”

How is the phrase onder het stof vandaan halen constructed? Why not just halen van?

In Dutch you often use a separable construction (locatie) + vandaan + halen to mean “take/get something from somewhere.” Here:

onder het stof specifies the location (“under the dust”)
vandaan is the separable particle indicating origin (“from there/it”)
halen is the main verb (“to fetch/get”)

You can’t replace this with halen van in this idiom; the full “vandaan halen” structure is required.

What exactly is vandaan doing in this context?

vandaan is an adverbial particle meaning “from there” or “from it.” It combines with halen to form a separable verb. In main clauses you split it:

ik haal … vandaan
This signals movement or transfer from a location.

Why is there a te before halen after proberen?

When proberen is followed by another verb in Dutch, the standard pattern is proberen te + infinitive. Omitting te would make the sentence ungrammatical in formal usage.

How would you change this sentence to past tense?

Swap probeer for its past form probeerde, keeping the infinitive clause intact. You get: Figuurlijk gezien probeerde ik de waarheid onder het stof vandaan te halen.

Should there be a comma after gezien in Figuurlijk gezien probeer ik?

No comma is required. Figuurlijk gezien is a single adverbial unit and doesn’t need to be set off. Inserting a comma would be a matter of style, not grammar.

Why is it de waarheid instead of een waarheid or just waarheid?

de waarheid (“the truth”) refers to a specific, known concept.

een waarheid (“a truth”) would suggest one truth among many.
Omitting the article completely (waarheid) is ungrammatical here, because Dutch generally requires a definite or indefinite article with countable nouns in such contexts.