keiner Fliege etw. zuleide tun (können)

one wouldn't hurt a fly

Türkçe: karıncayı bile incitmemek

Noun

die Fliege f.

Verb

tun

Topic

Alltag und Redewendungen

Register

Neutral register, used to emphasize harmlessness

Watch out. Nuance: often used with 'können' to express inability to harm.

In a sentence

Which form of tun fills the gap?

Mein Opa würde keiner Fliege etwas zuleide ____ können.

How it is used

Idiom meaning 'wouldn't hurt a fly,' describing a gentle person. Neutral register, used to emphasize harmlessness. A German speaker might say this about a kind neighbor. Nuance: often used with 'können' to express inability to harm.

Other verbs that go with Fliege

This is the choice the collocation turns on.

• die Fliege machento make oneself scarce

All collocations with Fliege

Other collocations built on tun

• Abbitte tunto apologize
• der Sache (Dat.) keinen Abbruch tundoes not detract from the matter
• etw. mit / ohne Absicht tunto do something on purpose
• seinen letzten Atemzug tunto take one's last breath/to die
• Buße tunto do penance or atone
• die Stirn haben / besitzen, etw. zu tunto have the nerve to do something
• Unrecht tunto act unjustly towards someone
• den ersten Schritt machen / tunto make the first move

All 9 collocations built on tun

More from Alltag und Redewendungen

• (das) Gemüse putzento clean and trim vegetables
• jdn. aus dem Spiel nehmento exclude someone
• die Rechnung verlangento ask for the bill
• sich ins Fäustchen lachento laugh up one's sleeve
• jdn. aufs Korn nehmento single someone out for criticism or mockery

All collocations in Alltag und Redewendungen