jemandem das Heft aus der Hand nehmen
to take control/power away from someone; to wrest the initiative from someone
Origin
Here 'Heft' means the hilt of a bladed weapon, especially a sword (Middle High German 'hefte', sword/knife hilt). Whoever held the hilt - i.e. the sword - was in charge; taking it out of their hand strips them of power.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
der Aufsichtsrat· supervisory boarddie Hand· handdas Heft· notebooknehmen· to takeder Skandal· scandalder Vorstand· board
Grammar that uses this word
- Pronoun 'ich' (I, nominative)Pronomen 'ich' (Nominativ)
- Definite article 'das' (the, neuter, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'das' (neutrum, Nominativ)
- Indefinite article 'ein' (a/an, neuter, nominative)Unbestimmter Artikel 'ein' (neutrum, Nominativ)
- Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
- Definite article 'die' (the, feminine, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'die' (feminin, Nominativ)
- Possessive articles in the dativePossessivartikel im Dativ
Examples
Nach dem nahm der dem das aus der .
After the scandal, the supervisory board took the reins out of the management's hands.