IdiomNature
Dutch
Dutchin de kiem smoren
Meaning: To nip something in the bud; to stop a problem before it grows.
Literally: To smother in the germ
Example: “De leraar smoorde de ruzie in de kiem.” — The teacher nipped the quarrel in the bud.
English equivalent: To nip something in the bud
Equivalents in other languages
English: nip something in the bud
French: Tuer dans l'œuf Literally: To kill in the egg
Origin: Kiem is a germ or seed just sprouting, so smothering something in the germ is killing it before it can grow. It is the Dutch counterpart of English "nip in the bud," and German im Keim ersticken uses exactly the same words. No particular story lies behind it.
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 To release pent-up anger, stress or energy.
- het heft in eigen handen nemen To take control of a situation or seize the initiative.
- een bittere pil something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept.
- op zijn bord krijgen to be assigned a task or burden.
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