IdiomThe Absurd
Dutch
Dutchbij de duivel te biecht gaan
Meaning: to seek counsel or confide in someone who is untrustworthy, dangerous, or morally corrupt.
Literally: To go to confession with the devil
Example: “Advies vragen aan de concurrent is bij de duivel te biecht gaan.” — Asking your competitor for advice is confiding in the very person who can hurt you.
Origin: Confession was made to a priest, who keeps one's secrets; confessing to the devil is handing one's secrets to an enemy who will use them. Stoett finds the phrase in its present form first in the proverb collection of Zegerus (around 1550), alongside variants with the hangman, the thief or Bacchus. German has beim Teufel zur Beichte gehen.
More Dutch idioms
- hout snijden to be convincing or logically sound; to hold up under scrutiny.
- water bij de wijn doen to compromise or make a concession in a dispute or negotiation.
- de teerling is geworpen an irrevocable decision has been made; the course of action is now set in motion.
- alleen de rozijnen uitpikken to select only the best or most desirable items while ignoring the rest.
- een loopje nemen to deceive or trick someone.
- roet in het eten gooien to spoil or ruin a plan, event, or situation by introducing an unwelcome disruption.
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