This is the 6834th most frequent Dutch word.
aanhalen
"To tighten" or "to cite/quote," depending on context.
Here "aanhalen" means "to cite" or "to refer to," often used when quoting or mentioning something for clarification or support.
Hij wilde een oud gezegde aanhalen om zijn standpunt te verduidelijken.
He wanted to cite an old saying to clarify his point.
In this case, "aanhalen" is used to mean "to tighten," referring to adjusting something to be more secure or snug.
De trainer vroeg om de paardentuig strakker aan te halen.
The trainer asked to tighten the horse harness.
Here, "aanhalen" is used metaphorically to mean "to strengthen" or "to deepen," typically applied to relationships or bonds.