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, groveling 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.
- in het water vallen — for a plan or undertaking to fail or fall through.
From our proverbs
- A bad bush is better than the open field. — Imperfect shelter still protects you better than standing completely exposed to danger.
- Who more busy than they that have least to do. — Idle people create unnecessary tasks to justify their existence and appear productive.
- Better pay the butcher than the doctor. — Investing in good food prevents illness more cost-effectively than treating disease after…