uit de hand lopen
Meaning: to become uncontrolled or chaotic.
Language: Dutch
Literally: to run out of hand
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The phrase draws on the image of something slipping beyond one's grip and control.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- tussen de oren — in one's mind or thoughts.
- een uur in de wind stinken — To smell extremely bad.
- under kniven — Undergoing surgery, or under intense pressure to perform.
- fjällen falla från någons ögon — To suddenly understand something that was previously hidden or obscured.
- med glimten i ögat — To say or do something in a joking or cheeky manner, with playful mischief rather than se…
- ha luktat krutrök — To be experienced in battle or conflict; to have been tested under fire.
More Dutch idioms
- achter slot en grendel — imprisoned or confined.
- in de clinch liggen — To be in conflict or at odds with someone.
- uit zijn plaat gaan — To lose control of oneself or go crazy.
- Helaas, pindakaas — Too bad, nothing can be done about it.
- Nu komt de aap uit de mouw — The truth is finally revealed.
- Met de deur in huis vallen — To get straight to the point without any preamble.
From our proverbs
- He that would be Pope must think of nothing else. — Single-minded devotion to ambition demands sacrificing all other concerns and distraction…
- Possession is nine points of the law, and they say there are but ten. — Physical control of something provides nearly complete legal claim, leaving little room f…
- A little pot is soon hot. — Small things heat quickly, so modest people reach their limit of patience or emotion fast…