Example: Van dik hout zaagt men planken, dat is hard werken.
Definition
"Van dik hout zaagt men planken" is a Dutch expression meaning that a rough or coarse approach is used to achieve a goal, often implying that the work is done in a straightforward, sometimes blunt manner. It highlights the idea of heavy, forceful effort to complete a task.
Translations
to be heavy-handed
actuar sin sutileza
actuar sense subtilesa
agir sans finesse
mit grobem Werkzeug arbeiten
a colpi di accetta si tagliano le tavole
de madeira grossa se corta tábuas
Etymology
The phrase "van dik hout zaagt men planken" literally translates to "from thick wood one saws planks." It originates from traditional woodworking, where thick wood requires heavy, robust sawing. Did you know? This saying humorously reflects the physical effort involved in carpentry, metaphorically describing a direct and vigorous way of working.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Van dik hout zaagt men planken" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C1) - set 1", containing 100 commonly used expressions.
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to be heavy-handed