iets in je oren knopen

Meaning: To make someone pay close attention to what you are saying, implying they should remember it well.

Language: Dutch

Literally: to tie into his ears

Example: “Knoop dit in je oren: nooit zwemmen na het eten.” — Mark my words: never swim right after eating.

English equivalent: Mark my words

Category: Body & Senses

Origin: Origin uncertain; the image pictures physically securing words by knotting them into someone's ears so they cannot escape.

Equivalents in other languages

Russian: Зарубить на носу (Zarubit' na nosu) — literally: To notch it on your nose
English: mark my words

de nek omdraaien — To kill or destroy someone or something, or to bring an end to a project or endeavor.
niet op zijn mond gevallen zijn — To be outspoken and forthright; to speak one's mind without hesitation.
tussen neus en lippen door — To say something in passing or casually, without emphasis or drawing attention to it.
op eigen benen staan — To be independent and self-sufficient; to support oneself without relying on others.
voet bij stuk houden — To stand firm and refuse to give in to pressure or threats.
uit de hand lopen — to become uncontrolled or chaotic.

een lans breken — To take up someone's cause or defend a position publicly.
weten waar Abraham de mosterd haalt — To be well-informed or knowledgeable about how things really work.
schoon schip maken — To make a thorough reform of an organization by removing bad practices or undesirable peo…
om zeep helpen — To kill or eliminate someone.
gaten schieten in — To criticize someone or something harshly by pointing out flaws or contradictions.
een tandje bijsteken — To intensify one's effort or increase the pace of activity; to move up a gear.

Fredagsmys — The Friday-night ritual of soft clothes, snacks and television with the people you live w…
Gökotta — Rising at first light for no reason but to go outside and hear the birds sing.
Poshlost' — Not merely the trashy, but the falsely important, falsely beautiful and falsely clever —…