De koe bij de horens vatten

Meaning: To tackle a problem head-on.

Language: Dutch

Literally: To take the cow by the horns

Category: Animals

Origin: Gripping the cow firmly by the horns to control it pictures confronting a difficulty directly and bravely.

More idioms — Animals

• Κάνω την πάπια — To feign ignorance; to play dumb.
• Att göra en pudel — To make a public, grovelling apology.
• Robić kogoś w konia — To make a fool of or trick someone.
• Å svelge noen kameler — To make big concessions and accept what you dislike.
• Å ha en høne å plukke med noen — To have a bone to pick with someone.
• Olla kuin Ellun kanat — To live a carefree, comfortable life.

More Dutch idioms

• Een appeltje voor de dorst — Savings put by for hard times.
• Met de mond vol tanden staan — To be tongue-tied and lost for words.
• De dans ontspringen — To narrowly escape trouble.
• hoe de vork in de steel zit — to understand the real situation or hidden mechanics of something.
• over de brug komen — to hand over money or pay what is owed.
• met de Franse slag — to do something in a careless, sloppy, or half-finished manner.

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