Example: Ik heb een appeltje met mijn buurman te schillen over het lawaai.
Definition
"Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben" is a Dutch expression meaning to have a small conflict or issue to settle with someone, often implying a desire to discuss or resolve a disagreement. For example, it can mean wanting to talk about a problem with a neighbor.
Translations
to have a score to settle
tener cuentas pendientes
tenir comptes pendents
avoir un compte à régler
ein Hühnchen zu rupfen haben
avere un conto in sospeso con qualcuno
ter uma conta a ajustar com alguém
Etymology
The phrase "een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben" literally translates to 'to have an apple to peel with someone.' It originates from the idea of peeling an apple together, which requires effort and cooperation, metaphorically representing the process of addressing and resolving a dispute. Did you know that apples here symbolize something small yet potentially troublesome?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Een appeltje met iemand te schillen hebben" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to have a score to settle