IdiomDaily Life
Dutch
Dutchin de clinch liggen
Meaning: To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
Literally: To lie in the clinch
Example: “De buren liggen al jaren met elkaar in de clinch over de heg.” — The neighbors have been at loggerheads over the hedge for years.
English equivalent: At loggerheads
Equivalents in other languages
English: at loggerheads
Origin: From boxing: a clinch is when two fighters hold on to each other at close range so neither can land a clean punch. The English word came into Dutch with the sport, and in de clinch liggen is being locked in a dispute with someone. Its first Dutch use is not documented.
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.
- Twee vliegen in één klap slaan To achieve two things with a single action.
- De pot verwijt de ketel dat hij zwart is Someone criticizes another person for a fault they have themselves.
- Het sop is de kool niet waard It isn't worth the trouble.
- Helaas, pindakaas Too bad, nothing can be done about it.
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