in zijn 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
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Origin uncertain; the image pictures physically securing words by knotting them into someone's ears so they cannot escape.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- 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.
More Dutch idioms
- 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.
- blijven zitten — To be held back a grade in school; to fail to advance to the next level of study.
From our untranslatable words
- 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 —…