in de kiem smoren
Meaning: To nip something in the bud; to stop a problem before it grows.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to smother in the germ
Category: Nature
Origin: The phrase pictures suppressing life at its earliest biological stage, before it can develop.
More idioms — Nature
- vuur met vuur bestrijden — to counter a harmful action using the same method or intensity.
- ta sig vatten över huvudet — Get in over one's head; take on more than one can manage.
- tidens tand — The slow decay and wearing away of things through the passage of time, the gradual damage…
- djungelns lag — Survival of the fittest; a state of lawlessness where brutal competition and violence det…
- gräva sin egen grav — To cause one's own ruin or downfall through foolish actions.
- på hal is — In a precarious or dangerous situation that one cannot control or easily escape.
More Dutch idioms
- veel noten op zijn zang hebben — To be demanding or to offer many critical comments.
- voet bij stuk houden — To stand firm and refuse to give in to pressure or threats.
- stoom afblazen — (Already vivid in English).
- het heft in eigen handen nemen — To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.
- bittere pil — something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept.
- op zijn bord krijgen — to be assigned a task or burden.
From our compliments & insults
- Es un/una pesado/a — A dreadful bore — their company feels like carrying extra weight.
- Más terco/a que una mula — Hopelessly obstinate — no argument, fact, or force of nature will shift their position.
- Pareces un pulpo en un garaje — You're completely out of place — flailing around uselessly in an environment that makes n…