roet in het eten gooien

Meaning: to spoil or ruin a plan, event, or situation by introducing an unwelcome disruption.

Language: Dutch

Literally: to throw soot in the food

Category: Food & Drink

Origin: The image is of deliberately contaminating a meal with soot, rendering it inedible and ruining what was meant to be enjoyed.

More idioms — Food & Drink

knollen voor citroenen verkopen — To swindle or defraud someone by passing off something worthless as valuable.
brood zien in — To view something as a viable or profitable business opportunity.
weten waar Abraham de mosterd haalt — To be well-informed or knowledgeable about how things really work.
niet veel soeps — Unimpressive or mediocre; not worth much.
bittere pil — something unpleasant or difficult that one must accept.
op zijn bord krijgen — to be assigned a task or burden.

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.
in zijn 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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