schoon schip maken
Meaning: To make a thorough reform of an organization by removing bad practices or undesirable people.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to make clean ship
Category: Daily Life
Origin: From maritime practice; a ship that has been cleaned thoroughly is ready for a fresh voyage, making it a metaphor for clearing away problems to start anew.
More idioms — Daily Life
- 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.
- een tandje bijsteken — To intensify one's effort or increase the pace of activity; to move up a gear.
- buiten de boot vallen — To be left out or excluded from a group or activity.
- ga toch fietsen — A rude dismissal telling someone to go away.
More Dutch idioms
- 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.
- van lotje getikt — To be crazy or eccentric; to be not quite sane.
- in de wind slaan — To deliberately ignore or disregard something.
- niet veel soeps — Unimpressive or mediocre; not worth much.