Dutchhet heft in eigen handen nemen
Meaning: To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.
Literally: To take the handle in own hands
Example: “Toen de gemeente niets deed, namen de bewoners het heft in eigen handen.” — When the council did nothing, the residents took matters into their own hands.
English equivalent: To take matters into one's own hands
Equivalents in other languages
English: take matters into one's own hands
Origin: Heft (or hecht) is the handle or hilt of a knife or sword, and whoever holds it controls the blade. Stoett records het heft in handen hebben (to hold the hilt) from the 17th century, in Hooft and others, and quotes Tuinman (1726): by the hilt one can hold a sword or knife fast. German says das Heft in der Hand haben. Taking the hilt into one's own hands is seizing control oneself.
More Dutch idioms
- een bittere pil something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept.
- op zijn bord krijgen to be assigned a task or burden.
- met de kippen op stok gaan to go to bed very early, at sunset.
- vuur met vuur bestrijden to counter a harmful action using the same method or intensity.
- uit de hand lopen to become uncontrolled or chaotic.
- het zit tussen de oren in one's mind or thoughts.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Gedane zaken nemen geen keer What is done cannot be undone.
- Beter een half ei dan een lege dop A little is better than nothing.
- Doe wel en zie niet om Do what is right and don't worry about the consequences.
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