lood om oud ijzer

Dutch

Etymology

Literally, “lead for old iron”; historically these had a very similar market value.

Phrase

lood om oud ijzer

  1. (idiomatic, of multiple possibilities) it makes no difference
    • 2016, Heinz Rein, De slag om Berlijn, Overamstel Uitgevers, →ISBN, page 65:
      'Of u me nou vertelt dat u Kempner heet of Schulze of Müller,' zegt de oude vrouw energiek, 'is me lood om oud ijzer, die naam zegt niks. U draait eromheen, jongeman. Bent u misschien van de inlichtingen?'
      'Whether you tell me your name is Kempner or Schulze or Müller,' says the old woman full of energy, 'makes no difference to me, a name means nothing. You are beating around the bush, young man. Are you perhaps from an intelligence agency?'
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