Het bijltje erbij neergooien
Example: Na veel moeite besloot hij het bijltje erbij neer te gooien.
Definition
"Het bijltje erbij neergooien" is a Dutch expression meaning to give up or abandon an effort after struggling or facing difficulties. It conveys the act of quitting something, often after persistent attempts, as in the example: 'After much effort, he decided to give up.'
Etymology
The phrase "het bijltje erbij neergooien" literally translates to 'throwing the little axe down,' referring to the act of dropping one's tool and ceasing work. It originates from traditional labor, where throwing down the axe symbolized quitting the task at hand. Did you know this vivid imagery makes the expression memorable and relatable?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Het bijltje erbij neergooien" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to throw in the towel