het heft in eigen handen nemen
Meaning: To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to take the handle in own hands
Category: Daily Life
Origin: The phrase pictures grasping the handle or helm of something directly, assuming personal command rather than letting others steer.
More idioms — Daily Life
- achter slot en grendel — imprisoned or confined.
- in de clinch liggen — To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
- ge järnet — Exert maximum effort; give one's all.
- sätta till alla klutar — To make a maximum effort or remove all restraints in pursuit of something.
- falla till föga — To surrender one's position or resistance; to give in.
- kratta manegen — To prepare the ground or circumstances to make it easier for someone to accomplish a task.
More Dutch idioms
- 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.
- tussen de oren — in one's mind or thoughts.
From our proverbs
- Make not a toil of your pleasure. — Pursuing enjoyment through rigid discipline defeats its purpose; leisure requires spontan…
- Don't stop the plough to catch a mouse. — Abandoning important long-term work for trivial immediate concerns wastes effort and dela…
- A man must plough with such oxen as he hath. — Work effectively with available resources rather than wasting energy wishing for better t…