IdiomFood & Drink
Dutch
Dutchop zijn bord krijgen
Meaning: to be assigned a task or burden.
Literally: To get on one's plate
Example: “Na de reorganisatie kreeg zij drie projecten op haar bord.” — After the reorganization she had a lot on her plate with three projects.
English equivalent: To have a lot on one's plate
Equivalents in other languages
French: Avoir sur les bras Literally: To have on one's arms
English: have a lot on one's plate
Origin: Having something put on one's plate is having a task served up to deal with, like a helping of food that must be eaten. The phrase matches English "on one's plate" and may come from it; it has no particular story behind it.
More Dutch idioms
- met de kippen op stok gaan to go to bed very early, at sunset.
- vuur met vuur bestrijden to counter a harmful action using the same method or intensity.
- uit de hand lopen to become uncontrolled or chaotic.
- achter slot en grendel imprisoned or confined.
- het zit tussen de oren in one's mind or thoughts.
- in de clinch liggen To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
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