IdiomAnimals
Norwegian
NorwegianÅ ha en høne å plukke med noen
Meaning: To have a bone to pick with someone.
Literally: To have a hen to pluck with someone
Example: “Jeg har en høne å plukke med deg om den bulken i bilen.” — I have a bone to pick with you about that dent in the car.
English equivalent: A bone to pick
Equivalents in other languages
Dutch: Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben Literally: To have a little apple to peel with someone
English: a bone to pick
French: Avoir maille à partir avec quelqu'un Literally: To have a maille to divide with someone
Origin: Having a hen to pluck with someone is having a grievance to settle with them. The picture is shared with German ein Hühnchen mit jemandem zu rupfen haben and Dutch, and English has "a bone to pick." Plucking a hen together sounds friendly, and the phrase is meant ironically.
More Norwegian idioms
- Å gjøre kål på noe To finish something off completely.
- Å være på pinebenken To be in anxious suspense.
- Å være ute og sykle To be completely mistaken or to have no idea what you're talking about.
- Å ha bein i nesa To be assertive and able to stand your ground.
- Å snakke rett fra leveren To speak frankly, without softening anything.
- Helt texas Utterly wild, chaotic or out of control.
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