Example: Hij besloot de koe bij de horens te vatten en het probleem aan te pakken.
Definition
"De koe bij de horens vatten" is a Dutch expression meaning to confront a difficult situation directly and take decisive action, similar to the English phrase 'to take the bull by the horns.' It implies tackling problems head-on without hesitation.
The phrase "de koe bij de horens vatten" literally means 'to grab the cow by the horns.' It originates from the practical advice of controlling a bull or cow by holding its horns, emphasizing courage and directness. Did you know this vivid image has been used for centuries to symbolize facing challenges boldly?
Learn to use this expression actively
"De koe bij de horens vatten" 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 tackle the problem directly