Example: Ze liet geen spaander heel van de oude vaas.
Definition
"Geen spaander heel laten van" is a Dutch expression meaning to criticize or destroy something completely, leaving nothing intact or unscathed. It is often used to describe harsh verbal attacks or total destruction, as in the example, "She left no shard intact of the old vase."
Translations
to tear something apart
destrozar verbalmente
destrossar verbalment
ne rien laisser debout
kein gutes Haar lassen an
non lasciare intatto
não deixar pedra sobre pedra de
Etymology
The phrase "geen spaander heel laten van" literally translates to 'leave no splinter whole.' It originates from the imagery of breaking an object, like a vase, into countless pieces, symbolizing total ruin or severe criticism. Did you know this vivid metaphor has been used in Dutch for centuries to emphasize complete devastation?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Geen spaander heel laten van" appears in the Vocaplus list "Dutch - General - Idioms and Proverbs - (C2) - set 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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to tear something apart