The Best German Idioms
Differing languages bring many things to the communication game in relationships ; confusion, misunderstandings, hilarity, moments like these. They also bring the gift of idioms, lots and lots of lovely idioms, those pithy little expressions we rely on in daily conversation to say precisely what we want to say in a quick, humorous manner. We also rely on our conversation partner understanding precisely the meaning of the idioms we use, and conversation smoothly flowing onward. In bilingual relationships, that doesn’t always happen.
German, like English, is a language rich with idioms, and SG a German who enjoys employing them at every turn. He particularly enjoys translating German idioms directly into English which sometimes works – we have several idioms in common – but very often doesn’t. Which is how we end up having conversations about people smearing honey around the mouths of others, or being gutted by like a Christmas goose, by the key cutter.
In honour of the excellence that is the German idiom, I have compiled some of my favourites, the direct English translation and then the English counterpart (the former and the latter most often not being the same thing.)
Because 95% of German idioms are about pigs.
— It goes DE // Direct Translation // EN Idiom Counterpart —
* Um den heißen Brei herumreden. // To talk around the hot soup. // To beat around the bush.
* Man soll den Ast nicht absägen, auf dem man sitzt. // One shouldn’t saw off the branch he’s sitting on. // Don’t cut your nose off to spite your face.
* Jemanden Honig um den Mund schmieren. // To smear honey around someone’s mouth. // To butter someone up.
* Sich in den Arsch beißen. // To bite oneself in the arse. // To kick oneself.
* Sich auf die Socken machen. // To make the socks. // To make tracks.
* Sie spielt die beleidigte Leberwurst. // She’s playing the insulted sausage. // She’s in a huff.
* Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. // I can only understand ‘train station’. // It’s all Greek to me.
* Hier spielt die Musik. // This is where the music is playing. // This is where the action is.
* Jemanden ausnehmen wie eine weihnachtsgans. // To gut someone like a Christmas goose. // To take somebody to the cleaners.
* Arschgeige. // Arse violin. // Arsehole.
* Dumm wie Bohnenstroh. // As dumb as a bean straw. // As thick as a brick, or as dumb as a post.
* Daumen drücken! // To press your thumbs. // To cross your fingers.
* Die Kirche im Dorf lassen. // To leave the church in the village. // To not get carried away.
* Mein lieber Herr Gesangsverein. // My dear Mr Choir. // My Goodness!
* Schwein haben. // To have a pig. // To have a stroke of luck.
* In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen. // In adversity, the devil eats flies. // Beggars can’t be choosers.
* Noch grün hinter den Ohren sein. // To still be green behind the ears. // To be half-baked.
* Ins Gras beißen. // To bite into the grass. // To kick the bucket.
* Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift. // I think my pig whistles. // Blow me down./(I think I’m going off my rocker (or just “oh my god”).
* Ich glaub mich knutscht ein Elch. // I think I was kissed by a moose. // An expression of surprise, like ‘well blow me down.’
* Mein Englisch ist unter aller Sau. // My English is under all pig. // My English is really bad.
* Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen. // You can take poison on that. //You can bet your life on that.
Berit
22 November, 2013 at 4:06 amDa kannst du Gift drauf nehmen.// You can take poison on that.//You can bet your life on that.
Liv
22 November, 2013 at 8:55 amTotally adding it, thank you!
Renate
21 January, 2014 at 10:55 pm“Graf Koks von der Gasanstalt” Someone pretending to be more or better or richer than they really are.
Renate
21 January, 2014 at 10:59 pmBy the way I grew up in Tirschenreuth, not far from Weiden. I went to “Mittelschule” in Neustadt. We went shopping to Weiden. Your blog makes me homesick.
Berit
23 November, 2013 at 4:12 amYou’re welcome! I love your blog! Will add stuff if any comes to mind. I am German expatriate living in the US (since 1996). Reading all this makes me a little homesick, and I am learning some stuff about communicating with my fellow Americans. Very cool.
Berit
23 November, 2013 at 4:49 amPS. I was bo rn and raised in Bremen. Which is, of course VERY DIFFERENT from Hamburg. 😉
Liv
24 November, 2013 at 10:21 amHave you gotten used to the American way of a) greeting everyone as if you know them very well (I know this drives the Germans crazy) and b) small talk? My number one complaint I hear from Germans about cultures that love chatting and greeting ‘hello! how are you!’ is that they are ‘fake’ … which always makes me smile.
theo
27 November, 2013 at 4:49 pmAnd it is true 😉 I always think americans making fun of me when they come with a giant smile “heeelloo! how are you? how are you doing? youre so nice!” etc
Liv
27 November, 2013 at 7:57 pmHahaha, Germans always think ‘why is this stranger smiling at me/asking me how I am/talking to me? Do I know them?’
Pat
3 April, 2014 at 3:38 amAs a German living in the US (and now US citizen as well) I actually enjoy the smiles and the “Hi, how are you?” Even if people call it fake or superficial, I’d much rather take that than an unfriendly cashier in the German supermarket who wouldn’t even say hello, let alone smile. Also, by now I get really annoyed with my fellow Germans when they bump into you or push you to the side without a word of “Entschuldigung”.
VickiG (@EMTP513)
27 April, 2018 at 4:20 amWhat do you people ever do to feel reLAXED? If you’re ALways talking deeply I don’t see how you can feel relaxed and several Germans have wondered why the hell so many German people have depression and panic attacks? Well always being deep and never taking time to relax with small talk might be one of the reasons.
Why’s everyone so anti-American? So attack them in every way, even a physical one? I was attacked that way 2 times in Germany so I returned to America early, but I’m not going to stay in the same country as President Caligula using his iron broom to sweep everyone he dislikes into oblivion.
Corky Rodriguez
13 July, 2018 at 11:53 pmAttacked is a little over the top. Sorry you cut your trip short, I’m amazed at that.
Berit
24 November, 2013 at 11:52 amThe greeting – yes, after all these years. It took a while, though. One time I went back to Europe for a visit and was appalled by how “unfriendly” everyone was. I knew then I was americanized. I have learned that the answer to “Hi, how are you” is “Hi, (or fine), how are you”! Not really a question but an exclamation. The small talk – somewhat, but I still feel awkward. I am a snow bird, and we just moved to Florida for the winter. The introduction to my new neighbor went a little wobbly. After reading your blog I know it’s not just me, it’s a German thing.
Liv
25 November, 2013 at 2:41 pmHaha yes, the ‘hi, how are you’ as a greeting and not necessarily a question that requires a detailed response, is so confusing to a lot of Germans. As you said, the response is always, ‘fine, how are you’ and then you can get into the real conversation.
Stefan
12 December, 2013 at 12:19 amHaha i´m a german and the direct translations are really funny 😀 I also have an Idiom for you: *Ich glaub ich spinne // I believe i spider // (Not sure about american translation but must be something like) I think i go crazy
Liv
12 December, 2013 at 6:21 pmLove it!
Hans-Joerg
11 January, 2014 at 2:58 pmHalt halt. Momenterl amoi. ‘Spinnen’ ist ein Verb und kein Subjekt. ‘Ich glaube ich spinne.’ heißt dann soviel wie ‘I believe/think I am spinning’, aber nicht im Sinn von ‘sich drehen’.
Nathalie
29 January, 2014 at 6:04 pmnah I think the correct english translation for this case is sth like “I think I am going crazy” because “spinnen” is here not the animal and not “spinnen” seen as “making wool” it’s the expression of “not being in a good state of mind”
german: spinnen = verrückt sein
In fact there are two(if you count the animal in, three) meanings of spinnen
Justmy2Cents
22 February, 2014 at 12:36 pmIn fact “spinnen” is just a Verb for “being crazy”,
Drey
11 April, 2014 at 2:04 amI’m german too. I think “spinnen” comes from the german word “Spinnrad” in this case. “Spinnrad” is translated to spinning wheel.
In “Grimms Märchen” is using the spinning wheel a bad idea because the girl stung herself and slept for 100 years.
I believe that is the origin of the idiom~
Ober Studienrat
19 September, 2016 at 9:48 pmDoch eigentlich schon im Sinn von “sich drehen”. Wird meines Wissens von dem Verb “die Spindel” abgeleitet.
Mimi
22 December, 2013 at 1:29 pmhere are some more idioms 🙂
In der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen // In adversity the devil eats flies // beggars can’t be choosers
Noch grün hinter den Ohren sein // to still be green behind the ears // to be half-baked
Ins Gras beißen // to bite into the grass // to kick the bucket
Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift // I think my pig whistles // Blow me down, I think I’m going off my rocker (or just “oh my god”)
Ich glaub mich knutscht ein Elch // I think I am kissed my a moose // (Just like the one above it’s an expression for when you’re really surprised)
Mein Englisch ist unter aller Sau // my english is under all pig // my english is really bad
Just like you already said, Germans have that thing with pigs 😀
Liv
24 December, 2013 at 11:08 amOh these are fantastic, thank you. Will definitely get them up soon. The one about being green behind the ears is interesting, because we have the expression ‘to be green’ which means the same thing.
linguaphilesblog
3 March, 2017 at 2:21 pmIn Afrikaans we say “Nog nat agter die ore” which means “still wet behind the ears” and that also means the same thing.
Chris Platt
22 February, 2018 at 1:15 pmIn English you would normally say, “wet behind the ears” to mean the same thing….
Baloo
7 January, 2014 at 9:04 amHi Liv, I just stumbled upon your blog and I LOVE it! My family and I spent three years in South Carolina and in the beginning I always tried to explain German idioms. At a certain point in time i accepted that German might be the more colorful language and that this might not be able to be transported into another culture.
Anyway, your blog might be a way to explain to our friends overseas why we are the way we are 🙂
Liv
10 January, 2014 at 10:17 amThe idioms do make me laugh – some of them are so similar to the English (and vice versa) and then some are almost the same, but not, and then some are like, ‘what?’
Akumay Kayuce
29 January, 2016 at 11:21 pmI don’t know. I used to live in the American southeast and the language had some interesting idioms. Here are some:
No skin off my teeth/ not my problem
Nose to the grindstone/ get to work
Like a cat in a room full of rocking chairs/ extreamly uncomfortable or nervous
Tan my hide/ to get your ass kicked
Piddling/ messing around
That dog won’t hunt/ useless
Knee high to a grasshopper/
short person or child
Bless your heart/ this can be meant as a kindness but most of the time they are calling you stupid.
Andreas Jourdan
9 January, 2014 at 12:19 pmHallo Liv, wirklich toller blog mit viel Humor und hervorragend geschrieben.
Ich würde gerne mit Deinem Einverständnis einige Auszüge für meinen Englischunterricht verwenden.
Zu den Idiomen, mir macht es total Spass etwas ins Alter gekommene Redewendungen bei den Schülern anzuwenden, um mich dann an den verdutzten und verständnislosen Blicken zu erfreuen 😉
Liv
10 January, 2014 at 10:31 amHallo Andreas, bitte nimm was du möchtest. Ich freue mich, dass dir mein Blog gefällt. Danke für deine netten Worte!
akismet-95ef3e0fe5ce862f947027e32bcfdd11
11 January, 2014 at 1:59 pmHey Liv, I found your blog the other day and love it, I’ve been going through some of the same things in reverse (I’m British/American, but spent my whole life in Germany until a few years a go when I started going on an extended bout of moving around England and America). I still remember the first time I stopped an American mid-passing and asked him if we had met because he asked me “how have you been?” <_<
I feel bad but my German to English cries out that "Ich glaube ich spinne" does not mean "I think I spider" but "I think I'm crazy" or "I think I'm spinning [thread]" depending on what translation of "spinne" you use. Much more boring I know 🙁
marcus
11 January, 2014 at 2:02 pmdon’t know why it listed my name as that random collection of words…
Liv
11 January, 2014 at 2:45 pmHello Marcus,
I love that you stopped and asked an American if you’d met. That breaks my heart.
You are probably spot on about the spider idiom – I am going to do some digging. I thought perhaps spinning instead of spider, but I’m not sure. It was from a lovely German reader. Shall definitely find out what it really means.
Liv
11 January, 2014 at 3:19 pmOkay, done some checking, and checked with the German, and it appears to be ‘I believe I spider’! As wonderfully bizarre as that is!
Update:
Perhaps not. Good God, what a controversial idiom! I think I’m spinning is the better direct translation, from what I can gather, but lacks the fun of spider. Hmmmm.
Sonja
11 January, 2014 at 8:52 pmI think it actually derives from spinnen as in making yarn – like in the expression “Seemannsgarn spinnen” – making up or exaggerating partly true stories.
Sam
19 September, 2017 at 11:17 pmIf spider is correct, then wouldn’t it be Spinnen with a capital S? Then the translation would be “I think I’m a spider.”
marcus
19 January, 2014 at 1:38 amYeah… I’ve spoken with some of my German friends and they seem to prefer spider even when they agree spinning makes more sense…
and in fairness to the poor American I wouldn’t have been confused if it hadn;t been ‘how have you been?’ like ‘since last time kind of implication for me…
Ror
12 January, 2014 at 5:05 pmLiv, bist Du noch nie gefragt worden: “Spinnst Du?”?
Liv
12 January, 2014 at 6:04 pmNein, nie!
Ror
13 January, 2014 at 10:54 amWas machst Du damit : “She sued me, because I showed her the bird.” ?
hahaha.
Anne Bubi
15 January, 2014 at 4:10 pmHummeln im Hintern haben// to have bumblebees in the but// to have ants in the pants
Franzi
20 January, 2014 at 4:20 pmHere’s another one:
hinter dem Mond leben // live behind the moon// wasn’t born yesterday? to be behind the times?
Karsten Franke
22 January, 2014 at 4:26 pmDu bist auf dem Holzweg. // You are on the wooden way // (Don’t know the american translation)
Michael Briel
4 February, 2014 at 12:50 pmTranslation would be: You are wrong (with the assumption you just made). A wooden path is obviously of less quality than one made of stones. Or yellow bricks.
Daniel Smith
26 September, 2014 at 8:33 pmBritish idiom would be you are Barking up the wrong tree
Ulrich Birowicz
19 May, 2016 at 9:42 pmyou’re totally on the wrong Track
Berit
22 January, 2014 at 11:31 pmI love this one. It means “you are mistaken”. The same meaning for “da hast du dich aber geschnitten” – “you cut yourself there”
Regarding “ich glaube ich spinne”, spinne is used as a verb, so imho it means spinning yarn and not spider, which is a noun. Imho.
Marius Schneider
23 January, 2014 at 1:10 pmHey Liv,
I just have to thank you for your brilliant articles. I’m German and I can identify myself with lots of your thoughts. During my bachelor-thesis I stumbled across this website: http://ithinkispider.com/ which has some very hilarious idioms.
Do you know a blogger, who’s doing what you do, just back to front? (Is this even an English idiom? :D)
I’m really thankful, that I stumbled across your blog! Keep up the good work 🙂
Greetings from Leipzig
Guest
24 January, 2014 at 4:10 pmHow could you possibly forget “Da wird ja der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt!” – There becomes the dog in pan crazy! – This is so crazy (and often astonishing), I can’t believe it
Furthermore: “Ich habe schon Pferde kotzen sehen” – I’ve seen horses puking – that’s unbelievable
“Das passt ja wie die Faust aufs Auge” – “It fits like the fist to the eye – It fits perfectly
“Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden” – to bind a bear (yes, the animal) to someone – to be kidding someone, to talk nonsense to someone
“Hals- und Beinbruch” – Break your neck and leg – Good luck
“Seit wann kommt der Knochen denn zum Hund?” – Since when does the bone move to the dog? – Why for christ’s sake should I do this? (In general, you say this, when you have the feeling that someone else is dependent on you)
“Die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln” – The most stupid farmers have the biggest potatos – someone does not deserve this, but got it just by luck
And another – maybe not a real idiom but still nice – “Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei” – Everything has an ending, just the sausage has two – you say this to solace, if something great ends
Karsten Franke
28 January, 2014 at 11:32 amI just remembered another:
Mal den Teufel nicht an die Wand! // Don’t paint the devil on the wall! // Speak of the devil…
Berit
29 January, 2014 at 2:21 pmVery good one! But it doesn’t mean “speak of the devil”. It means “be careful what you wish for” or “don’t expect the worst because it might happen”. We do have the same saying as “speak of the devil”: “Wenn man vom Teufel spricht”.
Robby
29 January, 2014 at 2:42 pmAuch Kleinvieh macht Mist // Even small animals produce manure // Every little counts
Jen
31 January, 2014 at 8:31 pm… I think I’m spinning …
SW
1 February, 2014 at 9:27 amHere is another one: ich werde Fuchs-Teufels-Wild // i’m going Fox devils Wild // i’m going Crazy
SW
1 February, 2014 at 9:33 amZu viele Köche verderben den Brei too many cooks, ruin the mash
Du Schaumschläger, Du! you foambeater, you!
Du kannst Dich zum Teufel scheren you can you to the devil scissors
Schwamm drüber! Sponge over!
Jetzt häng ich in der Luft now hang I in the air
Lass die Katze ausm Sack let the cat of the bag
Er machte uns einen Strich durch die Rechnung he made us a line trough the bill
Jetzt zieh ich andere Seiten auf now I pull other pages up
Das Spiel ging unentschieden aus the game walked out undecisioned
Das kann nur ein Spaß sein this can only a fun be
Nachmittags aftermiddledays
Bis gleich! until equal
Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift I think my pig pipes
Ich übersetze alles wortwörtlich I.m overseating all wordwordly
Es grenzt an ein Wunder it borders on a wonder
Jetzt gehen mir die Ideen aus now me walk the ideas out
Du kannst mir den Buckel runter rutschen! you can slide me down the hump!
Bist Du sicher? are you save?
Holla die Waldfee holla the woodfairy
Du kannst mir den Buckel runterrutschen you can slight my back down
Du bist so ein Angsthase your are so a fear rabbit
Alles hängt zusammen everything hangs together
Er machte sich mir nichts, dir nichts aus dem Staub he made himself, me nothing, you nothing out of the dust
Leben ist kein Zuckerschlecken life is no sugarlicking
Ich bin Fuchsteufelswild I´m foxdevilswild
Ich versteh nur Bahnhof I understand just trainstation
Alles im grünen Bereich evererything in green area
Stell Dich nicht so an stand you not so on
Wer andern eine Bratwurst brät, der hat ein Bratwurstbratgerät who fries other ones a sausage, has a sausage-frying-device
Du kommst in Teufelsküche you come in devils kitchen
Reiss dich zusammen! rip you together!
Ist mir Latte is me boner
Doppelt genäht hält besser double needled holds better
Nehmen Sie Platz bitte take place please
Da ist die Kacke am Dampfen there is the crap steaming
Jetzt geht´s um die Wurst now it goes around the sausage
Da liegt der Hund begraben there lies the dog buried
Du hast mir keinen Meter weitergeholfen you helped me no meter further
einen an der Waffel haben to have one on the wafer
Die Arschkarte ziehen pull the ass card
Jetzt mal Butter bei die Fische now butter by the fishes
Ich freu mich schon drauf I joy me already thereon
Deckel zu, Affe tot! lid to, monkey dead!
Danke, es geht so thanks, it walks so
Sag mal, gehts Dir noch oder was? say once, goes it you still or what?
mach ne Fliege make a fly
Das ist Hammerhart this is hammer hard
Mein Bildschirm geht nicht my pictureumbrella walks not
Mensch Meier Human Meier
uns laeuft das Wasser im Mund zusammen us runs the water in the mouth together
Das geht ab wie Schmitz Katze that goes away like Schmitz Cat
Ich lach mich kaputt I laugh me broken
Einfach so daher gesagt easy there along said
Kratz die Kurve scratch the turn
Ich bekomme mein Gehalt überwiesen I get my go stop over meadows
Macht nichts makes nothing
Jetzt gehts los now it goes loose
Ich glaub ich brech zusammen I think I break together
Halt den Rand hold the edge
Ich klatsch Dich weg! I clap you away!
auf jeden Fall on every case
Da bist Du auf dem Holzweg there you on the woodway
Ich kann nicht mehr I can not more
Erzähl mir nicht das Blaue vom Himmel don’t tell me the blue from the heaven
Du hast nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank you have not more all cups in the board
Das ist ein netter zug von Dir that’s a nice train from you
Ich hab jetzt wirklich die Nase voll I have now really the nose full
Hau rein! Beat in!
Da bist Du platt was? there are you flat what?
es ist mir Wurst it’s me sausage
Das macht mir keiner so leicht nach that makes me nobody so easy after
Sieh zu, dass du Land gewinnst see to that you win land
Mir geht ein Licht auf me goes a light up
schäm’ Dich was shame you what
Ich hab die Schnautze voll I have the muzzle full
Jetzt haben wir den Salat now we have the salad
Himmel, Arsch und Zwirn! heaven, ass and thread!
Mein großes Vorbild my great before-picture
Spaß bei Seite fun by side
Es haut mich aus den Socken it knocks me out the socks
Entschuldige, mein Englisch ist unter aller Sau sorry, my englisch is under all pig
Das ich nicht lache! that I don’t laugh!
Wie Du mir, so ich Dir! how you me, so I you
Ich glaub mich laust der Affe I think me louses the monkey
Nicht schlecht Herr Specht not bad Mr. Woodpecker
Ach du grüne Neune oh you green nine
Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen Peace, Joy, Pancake
Mal nicht den Teufel an die Wand draw not the devil on the wall
Da stehen mir die Haare zu Berge there my hairs stand up to the mountain
Zum Donnerwetter! to thunderweather!
Ich bringe meine Schäfchen ins Trockene I bring my sheep into the dry
Du gehst mir aufn Wecker you are going me on the alarm-clock
Ich muss die Brötchen verdienen I must the bread-rolls earn
Was für ein Hundewetter what a dog weather
Fass dir ein Herz grap you a heart
Jetzt schlägt’s aber dreizehn now beats it but thirteen
Erzähl mir keinen vom Pferd tell me nothing from the horse
die Schreckschraube the horror-screw
Es ist nicht gut Kirschen essen mit Dir it´s not good cherry eating with your
Alles für die Katz everything for the cat
Gib nicht so an give not so on
Nur über meine Leiche! only over my corpse!
Quatsch mit Soße bullshit with sauce
die Schlauberger the Clever-Mountains
Kurz und prägnant short and pregnant
Ich lach mich tot I laugh me dead
Frag nicht nach Sonnenschein don´t ask after sunshine
Ich glaub es hackt I think it’s hacking
Mir reicht es me reaches it
Das ist einwandfrei that’s one-wall-free
Das ist mir sowas von scheiß egal this is me so what from shit equal
Haut ab! Skin off!
Ich sterbe für Schwarzwälderkirschtorte I die for Blackforrestcherrycake
Spiel Dich ja nicht auf play you yes not up
Es brennt mir unter den Nägeln it burns me under the nails
Aus heiterem Himmel out clear sky
Komm mir nicht so! come me not so!
Das ist ein starkes Stück that is a strong piece
Sag mir den Grund! tell me the ground!
In den höchsten Tönen von jemanden sprechen to speak in the highest sounds of somebody
Was ist das hier für ein Saftladen? what’s this for a juiceshop here?
Da ist was im Busch there is something in the bush
Hier ist tote Hose here is dead trousers
Ich mach mich aus dem Staub I make myself out of the dust
Auf der faulen Haut liegen lie on the lazy skin
Ich steh aufm Schlauch I stand on the tube
Stuhlgang chairgoing
So wird ein Schuh draus so becomes a shoe out of it
Mit meinem Vorgesetzten komm ich gut klar I come good clear with my before seated
Jemandem ein Loch in den Bauch fragen ask someone a hole in the stomach
Ich habe hunger I have hunger
Der Kerl ist mit allen Wassern gewaschen this guy is washed with all waters
Gott sei Dank! godbethank!
Ich habs im Fernsehen gesehen. I saw it in the farlooking.
ins Fettnäpfchen treten to step in the fatcup
Dach lachen ja die Hühner there are laughing yes the chickens
Komm schon…spring über Deinen Schatten come on…jump over your shadow
Du bist schwer auf Draht you are heavy on wire
Wer’s glaubt wird selig who believes it, will be blessedly
Ich schäm mich in Grund und Boden I shame me in ground and floor
komm klar! come clear!
Ich halt´s im Kopf nicht aus I hold it in head not out
Da rollen sich mir die Zehennägel hoch there roll me the toenails high
Du musst mehr trainieren you must more train
Ich glaub, ich dreh am Rad I think I’m turning the wheel
Da könnt ich an die Decke gehen! there I could go to the ceiling!
Jetzt kann kommen was will now can come what want
Für mich geht das klar for me goes that clear
Das ist nicht mein Bier that’s not my beer
Knapp daneben ist auch vorbei close aside is also over
Du Glückspilz you luck mushroom
Das ist so arm… this is so arm…
mir nichts, dir nichts me nothing, you nothing
Grüß Gott Greet God
Es läuft mir Eiskalt den Rücken runter it walks me icecold the back down
Glaubst Du nicht es reicht jetzt? don’t you think this reaches now
Ich drück Dir die Daumen i press you the thumbs
Wer andern eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein who digs other one a hole, will fall himself in
Das hier kann nicht Dein Ernst sein this here cannot be your earnest
nicht von schlechten Eltern not from bad parents
die Brandblase the fire bubble
Das passt auf keine Kuhhaut this fits on no cowskin
Das gibt’s ja nicht! this gives it yes not!
Ich bekomm die Krise I become the crisis
voegeln to bird
Ich wünsch Dir was i wish you what
Aus die Maus out the mouse
nimm dich in Acht take yourself in eight
Er hat es Faustdick hinter den Ohren he has it fistplump behind the ears
Niemand kann mir das Wasser reichen no one can reach me the water
Das geht Dich nichts an that goes you nothing on
Wie spät ist es auf Deiner Uhr? how late is it on your watch?
Fünfe gerade sein lassen letting be five straight
jemandem auf den Leim gehen to go someone on the glue
Wieder was gelernt again what learned
Tot gesagte leben länger dead said life longer
Schmerz lass nach pain let after
Trautes heim, Glück allein known home luck alone
Nicht das Gelbe vom Ei not the yellow of the egg
Das Auge isst mit the eye eats with
Jemandem auf den Zahn fühlen feel somebody on the tooth
jetzt sitzten wir ganz schoen in der Tinte now we sit quite beautiful in the ink
Kreisverkehr Circle-Sex
Ich glaube wir sind jetzt in einem Teufelskreis I think we are now in the devilsround
Mir fällt ein Stein vom Herzen me falls a stone from heart
Du schlägst ja ganz neue Töne an you beat yes completely new notes on
halt die Luft an hold the air on
Wie Du mir, so ich Dir how you me so I you
Da guckst Du dumm aus der Wäsche there you look stupid out of the laundry
Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt there goes the dog in the pan crazy
Da kannst Du Gift drauf nehmen you can take poison on it
Sie hatte einen Kreislaufzusammenbruch she had a circleroundbreakdown
Geh mir nicht auf den Geist don’t go me on the ghost
Jemandem etwas auf die Nase binden bind somebody something on the nose
Sie können Du zu mir sagen you can say you to me
geh zur Seite go to the page
Ich fiel aus allen Wolken I fall from all clouds
Geh vor die Hunde go before the dogs
Lass die Kirche im Dorf leave the church in the village
Du bist so eine Pfeife you are such a pipe
In die Gänge kommen come in the Corridors
Wie Geil ist das denn!? How horny is that then !?
Jemandem auf der Nase herumtanzen to dance around on someones nose
Ich muss mich übergeben I must overgive me
Halt die Ohren steif hold the ears stiff
Der springende Punkt ist the jumping point is
Ich komm mir verarscht vor I come me appled for
Da könnt ich kotzen there I could puke
Du kannst mich mal you can me one time
eine ruhige Kugel schieben push a silent bowl
Wie geht’s Dir? how goes it you?
Jetzt ist es Feierabend now it’s celebration evening
Aller erste Sahne very first cream
jetzt ist der Ofen aus now is the oven out
Du bist ein Tunichtgut you are a do-not-good
Nicht gleich mit der Tür ins Haus fallen not equally fall with the door in the house
Worum geht es? where round goes it?
Ich kann den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen I can.t see the forest for louder trees
Ich schmeiß mich über die Häuser I throw me over the houses
Gemach, gemach! chamber, chamber!
Ich glaub ich spinne I think I spider
Das ist mir egal that’s me equal
Nichts für ungut nothing for ungood
Du hast einen Sprung in der Schuessel you have a jump in the dish
Den Teufel werd ich tun the devil will i do
Das macht mir keiner so leicht nach that makes me nobody so quickly after
Das ist mir sowas von Wurscht that is me so what of sausage
Leg ein Zahn zu Put a tooth to
Jemandem Honig ums Maul schmieren to put honey around someone’s mouth
Ich seh Schwarz für Dich I see black for you
Das ist nur ein Katzensprung von hier it’s just a catjump from here
Du gehts mir tierisch auf den Keks you walk me animally on the cookie
Lass die Kirche im Dorf let the church in the village
Du willst mich wohl für dumm verkaufen you want to sell me well for stupid
Das ist Jacke wie Hose that is jacket as trousers
Das find ich auch that find I also
Du bringst mich auf die Palme you bring me on the palm
Berit
2 February, 2014 at 1:03 pmThis is a great list. I forgot we had all these. Unfortunately, the English translations are not so great, and some of the idioms are not quite correct. For example, “jetze ziehe ich andere Seiten auf”: that should actually be “Saiten” as in strings of a violin. I will pull up different strings = I will change my tune. (Really meaning “things are about to get nasty”).
I love “das is Jacke wie Hose”, “jacket as trousers” which means “six of one, half a dozen of another”
Also “bringing someone on the palm”, how fun is that, but it means “you’re making me very angry”.
Let me know if you have any questions on these, glad to help.
Nadine
10 February, 2014 at 6:11 amHi Liv, I discovered your site today and I have not stopped reading and laughing and missing Germany for the last 6 hours. Can’t stop reading, am literally trapped, thanks for giving me a wonderful “reading Sunday”. Actually, I am German (from the south) and been living in Latin America for the last 8 years. Imagine within the next weeks I will move to your homecity, a whole new and unknown adventure, but as you know, these are the most enriching ones in life. Please keep writing! I hope I find something similar exhilarating to read about your mates and Downunder, would definitely help.
John Bergt
12 February, 2014 at 7:07 amMein name ist Hase, ich weiss Von nichts // my name is rabbit, I know of nothing // I know nothing (said in my best Sgt. Schultz voice)
Lena K
12 February, 2014 at 8:43 pmWem der Schuh passt, zieht in sich an.//Whom the shoe fits will put it on.//Somebody makes a comment about misbehaviour or anything negative and the other person replies to it:
A: “I hate people being late!”
B: “But I was only five minutes late!”
A: “I wasn’t talking about you…”
B: “Oh.”
Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen.//There has never been a master falling down from heaven/the sky.//No-one is born a master.
Wer im Glashaus sitzt, sollte nicht mit Steinen schmeißen. (or a bit more crude: Wer im Glashaus sitzt, sollte im Keller scheißen.:D)//The one sitting in a house of glass should not throw stones. (The one sitting in a house of glass should shit in the basement.)//If you’re not good at something you should not critisize people who aren’t good at it as well.
Wer anderen eine Grube gräbt, fält selbst hinein.//The one digging a hole for others to fall in will fall in himself.//Explaining itself, isn’t it? 😀 -> You can easily fall into your own trap.
Wie man in den Wald reinruft, so schallt es raus. OR: Der Ton macht die Musik//The way it’s shouted into the wood, it will get back out. OR: The sound makes/defines music. -> You are treated as you treat others./ It’s not what you say but the way you say it.
Wo man singt, da lass dich nieder, böse Menschen haben keine Lieder!//Settle down where people sing because evils don’t have songs.
Männer sind Schweine//Men are pigs.//Men are arseholes. ->Only somtimes, you know ;^)
Lena K
12 February, 2014 at 8:51 pmForgot something… XD It really is worth adding.
Lügen haben kurze Beine.//Lies have short legs//The truth will out. Logically, people with short legs don’t get far…
Silky C
14 February, 2014 at 12:09 pmSuper, ich liebe es…
hier noch one of my favourites:
das geht auf keine Kuhhaut! that doesnt’ fit on a cow’s skin/ thats just too much, it’s unbearable.
as mit dem Begrüßen ‘how are you’ stimmt völlig, da falle ich oft selbst nach Jahren noch rein.
Liebe Grüße aus KA.
Gunter Günni McGee
20 February, 2014 at 10:22 amI just copied a few Phrases, a Image of the Cover and a Link to your Side on my Facebook Page. I love you!
John.....Another Aussie living in Germany
5 April, 2014 at 2:19 pmI find it funny how the Germans are on “Wolke 7″….. while the English are on “cloud 9″…. guess there wasn’t enough space on the one cloud for all of us!!!
forester15
15 December, 2016 at 5:39 amIt could be similar to “I was in seventh heaven” 🙂 means quite the same
Emi longhairedatheart
6 June, 2014 at 3:56 amVolle Kanne…./ Full pot (tea)/ = with full force.
Auf die Kacke hauen/ To hit the poop/ = to have a blast (party)
Einen Schaden haben/ To have damage/ = To be nuts
Sarah
21 June, 2014 at 12:20 amAch Du gruehne Neune! // Oh you green nines! // Goodness! Or Oh my!
DarrenStroh
26 November, 2014 at 11:40 pmeinem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul /
Don’t look in a free horse’s mouth / beggars can’t be choosy
Also please see:
http://de.m.wikiquote.org/wiki/Englische_Sprichwörter
Anonymous
21 January, 2020 at 11:37 amIsn’t that more like “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth”?
{False Friends or My English is under all Pig!} German-English Edition | Beauty Expression by Luchessa
8 October, 2014 at 4:41 pm[…] this idioms topic was written by Liv Hambrett, which i’d really recommend to take a look at. {The Best German Idioms} Her blog is really pretty to look at […]
12mal12 September - heldenwetter
4 October, 2015 at 8:10 pm[…] zum Beispiel die Frage, warum Deutsche eigentlich nicht fett sind. Und teilt die besten deutschen Redewendungen – einfach herrlich, vor allem die englischen Direktübersetzungen und ihre Erkenntnis, dass […]
Fuchsteufelswild
25 May, 2016 at 8:48 amI know I’m not a native German, but after having studied the German language for three years at the UA in Arizona, I feel like if it was meant to be “spider,” then the “s” in spinne would be capitalized. Of course that’s a minor issue, but still something to be considered since nouns are identified through that. But “I think I spider” is much more humorous.
My personal favorite: Ich bin Fuchsteufelswild! – I am Foxdevilswild! – I am livid beyond belief!
To be as wild as a fox and as mad as the devil, the ultimate way to say you’re so angry by something.
Lily
19 September, 2016 at 11:11 amHi my friend. I want to know the meaning of this sentence… please help me. This sentence is Swiss-German. “Du kan Batter.” Thank you.
Barbara Coles
13 November, 2016 at 2:37 amDoes anyone have a German equivalent to “In for a penny, in for a pound?”
Ulrich Birowicz
4 January, 2017 at 3:55 pmMitgefangen, mitgehangen – caught together, hanged together
Constanze Barringer
23 January, 2017 at 8:00 pmSchweinerei –> piggory
Liselotte
10 May, 2017 at 7:47 pmPretty sure “Ich glaub ich spinne” means “I think I’m spinning/yarning”. Somebody who “spinnt” is not in his right mind about something, seeing things the wrong way, misunderstanding them, making them up. If you want, you can see a relation to the web a spider fabricates so I’m almost sure there’s a common root (Eine Spinne spinnt – a spider webs).
Also speaking for the verb is the expression Seemannsgarn – sailor’s yarn, a story that’s fabricated, tightly woven to pass as the truth. We’d say “Ein Seemann spinnt Seemannsgarn” – “A sailor weaves/spins/yarns sailor’s yarn”
Equally, a person who “spinnt” weaves their own truth. “Du glaubst wirklich, er meinte Dich als er sagte er mag keine Idioten? Du spinnst!” – “You really think he meant you when he said he didn’t like idiots? You’re crazy/making up your own version of what he really meant without any reason/proof/you’re seeing things!”
“Hat er das wirklich gerade getan?! Ich glaub, ich spinne!” however => “Did he really just do that? I can’t believe my eyes/ears/senses, as what really happened is so abstruse, it cannot be true, I must be hallucinating!”
Mike Seven
18 August, 2018 at 11:16 amWhen I started learning English about 60 years ago my teacher warned us to translate idioms literally. It was an absolute no-no to translate “having butterflies in the stomach” into “Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben”.
Nowadays this is a common saying in German. Due to the influence of American TV young people are prone to adopt English expressions and merge them into German, e.g. shouting OMG. Nobody would have used this twenty years ago.
We German speakers even invent “English” words which do not exist in English having the meaning we gave them, e.g. Handy (mobile phone), Showmaster (tv host or anchor), Slip (panties), etc.
Sandra Lohmann
22 September, 2018 at 12:31 pmSei kein Frosch – don’t be a party pooper
Es kommt mir aus den Ohren – I’ve had enough of it
Ich schwebe im 7. Himmel – I’m on cloud 9
Stuart
23 September, 2018 at 12:41 pmLiv, as an Aussie, you’ll appreciate the German equivalent of “beyond the black stump” (ie the middle of nowhere): “Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen”
Larry
29 September, 2018 at 1:00 amHi Liv, I very much enjoyed your blog, it is amusing and very informative. I am an American and my wife of many years grew up in Bavaria, and so we often go over there for visits. I have some American idioms for which I wonder if there is a comparable German saying. These are “when pigs fly” and “in your dreams”. The meaning in English is “no way will that ever happen”. Perhaps you have already listed a comparable one in your list already?
Jessi Peterson
3 October, 2018 at 1:00 amI don’t know if this is an idiom, maybe more a colloquilism from low German? My mother’s family uses a term for when you blow on your soup or other too hot food to cool it off – they call it poosing. Not sure how that would be spelled, but it’s said just how it looks. Does anyone else use this term and have a guess about derivation?
Liv
3 October, 2018 at 10:32 amI would hazard a guess it’s from the verb pusten – to blow?
Fim Tuller
6 October, 2018 at 1:19 pm“I think I spider” makes no sense in English. Using “spider” as a verb doesn’t quite work here.
Anonymous
29 January, 2019 at 2:09 amTranslate the idiom: Ihn glauben hier Katz und Hund!
Wayne McKinney
12 February, 2019 at 6:51 amTo still be green behind the ears means young and inexperienced, not half baked, at least to my native MD experience.
Nico
17 May, 2019 at 3:27 pmThe correct translation of “Ich glaub ich spinne.” would be “I think I’m spinning.”
The history of this phrase is that a long time ago when people had mental problems, the doctors put them in front of a spindle because they thought it would calm them down. And it really worked! The people were concentrated and could spend some time dealing with something other than with their problems.
So “spinning” (“Spinnen” – verb) was a therapy for crazy people.
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Die korrekte Übersetzung für “Ich glaub ich spinne.” wäre “I think I’m spinning.”
Die Geschichte dieses Sprichworts ist, dass, vor langer Zeit, Leute, die psychische Probleme hatten, vor eine Spindel gesetzt wurden und dort spinnen sollten, um sich zu beruhigen. Und es funktionierte wirklich! Die Leute waren konzentriert und konnten sich einmal mit etwas anderem als mit ihren Problemen beschäftigen.
Also war “Spinnen” – Verb ( “Spinning”) eine Therapie für psychisch Kranke.
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PS: I was born in Munich 14 years ago, now I live in the Swabian region (if anyone knows that). But in my heart I am Bavarian.
———————————
PS: Ich wurde vor 14 Jahren in München geboren und lebe jetzt in schwäbischen Baden-Württemberg. Biz in meinem Herzen bin ich bayrisch.
Anonymous
20 May, 2019 at 6:20 amInteresting collection
Enjoyed reading.
Vanessa S.
22 November, 2019 at 12:35 amI’m looking for an expression like the English one “Back to the salt mines,” indicating a need to get back to work, or back to being serious. I looked through the many interesting phrases above and didn’t see one, or perhaps I missed it. I’m writing a story where the speaker is from the old DDR (pre- 1989) so one that would be an extra-nice touch if there is a specific one from that era.
Thanks! Vanessa
Liv
22 November, 2019 at 1:34 pmI asked on Twitter and some good suggestions came through! https://twitter.com/LivWrites/status/1197766132310192133
Jackie
21 January, 2020 at 11:40 amIs there an equivalent German idiom for “old as dirt”?
Anonymous
5 December, 2020 at 7:59 amIns Gras beißen // To bite the dust