an advantageous circumstance, something that someone can seize upon, that strengthens their argument or position; grist for the mill (but not equivalent in all contexts)
çekim: tamlayan Wassers auf die Mühlen
köken: Literally, “water on the mills”.
aile: Wasser auf jemandes Mühle(n) leiten
Dieser Tritt ins Fettnäpfchen war natürlich Wasser auf die Mühlen ihrer Kritiker.
köken: Literally, “Everything that comes in the net is fish”, or more loosely translated as “Everything the net catches is fish”. Compare Portuguese tudo o que vem à rede é peixe.