Example: Hij gooide de knuppel in het hoenderhok tijdens de vergadering.
Definition
"De knuppel in het hoenderhok gooien" is a Dutch expression meaning to deliberately cause disruption or provoke a strong reaction in a group by introducing a controversial topic or action, often leading to confusion or conflict, as in the phrase: He threw the bat into the chicken coop during the meeting.
The phrase "de knuppel in het hoenderhok gooien" literally means 'throwing the bat into the chicken coop.' It originates from the idea that throwing a heavy stick into a place full of chickens would cause chaos and disturbance, much like stirring up trouble in a social or professional setting. Did you know? This vivid imagery highlights how a simple action can disrupt harmony.
Learn to use this expression actively
"De knuppel in het hoenderhok gooien" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select Dutch as the language you want to learn.
to stir things up