bij de duivel te biecht gaan
Meaning: to seek counsel or confide in someone who is untrustworthy, dangerous, or morally corrupt.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to go to confession with the devil
Category: The Absurd
Origin: The phrase draws a stark contrast between confession to a priest (a holy act) and confession to the devil (a betrayal of trust), picturing the absurdity of trusting an inherent enemy.
More idioms — The Absurd
- van lotje getikt — To be crazy or eccentric; to be not quite sane.
- in de wind slaan — To deliberately ignore or disregard something.
- uit zijn plaat gaan — To lose control of oneself or go crazy.
- sitta med skägget i brevlådan — Be in a pickle or difficult predicament.
- en koloss på lerfötter — Something that appears powerful and impressive but rests on a fundamentally weak foundati…
- så till den milda grad — To such an extent; to a remarkable or extreme degree, often used ironically.
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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