in de clinch liggen
Meaning: To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to lie in the clinch
Category: Daily Life
Origin: From boxing: when two fighters are too close to land clean punches, they clinch to control each other. The image is of being locked in struggle.
More idioms — Daily Life
- 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.
- lämna någon åt sitt öde — To abandon someone, leaving them to deal with consequences on their own.
- jämna med marken — To completely destroy or demolish a building or structure.
More Dutch idioms
- een uur in de wind stinken — To smell extremely bad.
- uit zijn plaat gaan — To lose control of oneself or go crazy.
- Helaas, pindakaas — Too bad, nothing can be done about it.
- Nu komt de aap uit de mouw — The truth is finally revealed.
- Met de deur in huis vallen — To get straight to the point without any preamble.
- Iets voor een appel en een ei kopen — To get something for next to nothing.
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