IdiomFood & Drink
Dutch
Dutchroet in het eten gooien
Meaning: to spoil or ruin a plan, event, or situation by introducing an unwelcome disruption.
Literally: To throw soot in the food
Example: “Het onweer gooide roet in het eten van ons picknick.” — The thunderstorm threw a spanner in the works of our picnic.
English equivalent: To throw a spanner in the works
Equivalents in other languages
English: To throw a spanner in the works
Slovenian: Metati polena pod noge Literally: To throw logs under someone's feet
Swedish: sätta käppar i hjulet Literally: To set sticks in the wheel
Polish: włożyć kij w szprychy Literally: To put a stick in the spokes
Origin: Soot is extremely bitter, as Onze Taal explains, so a pinch of it ruins any dish, and roet came to mean anything that spoils the taste of something good. Stoett's dictionary quotes the phrase from newspapers of 1914, along with er is roet in het eten, there is trouble. Its first use is not documented.
More Dutch idioms
- bij de les blijven to remain focused and attentive; to keep one's composure.
- voor dovemansoren Said or done in vain; unheeded by those it is meant for.
- in de wieg gelegd zijn To have a natural talent or aptitude for something from birth.
- iets in je oren knopen To make someone pay close attention to what you are saying, implying they should remember…
- een lans breken To take up someone's cause or defend a position publicly.
- de nek omdraaien To kill or destroy someone or something, or to bring an end to a project or endeavor.
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