Learning languages certainly has its enjoyable moments. It's delightful to uncover how individuals in another country, or who speak a different language, convey their emotions through vibrant expressions. Understanding these idioms is also an excellent way to sound more natural when conversing with native speakers. In this blog, we have explained the list of common German Idioms which will help you to sound like a German!
Die Daumen drücken
‘Die Daumen drücken’ translates literally to ‘press the thumbs’.
It's amusing how similar this is to the English expression ‘to keep one’s fingers crossed’.
Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei
Germany is known for its sausages and poets, which likely inspired this well-known saying: ‘everything has an end, only the sausage has two’.
This reflects the German ideals of pragmatism and simplicity as their notion of beauty.
Einen Kater haben
Did you have too many pilsners at your friend’s party and regret it the next morning? Being hungover is a common experience, but you can definitely get through the day.
If you want to express this to your German friends, you’ll need to say, “ich habe einen Kater,” which literally means “I have a cat.”
Ich glaube ich spinne
Ever feel like you're losing it? Well, in Germany, when you're on the verge of insanity, you can say: ‘Ich glaube ich spinne’ – which literally translates to ‘I think I’m a spider’.
So, if you ever find yourself overthinking a situation, just remember: you might not be crazy, you might just be spinning!
Mist!
Picture this: You missed your train or clumsily dropped your coffee. What do you yell? ‘Mist!’ (which means ‘Damn’).
It’s the go-to word for any small disaster. So next time you spill your drink or trip over your own feet, embrace your inner German with a dramatic ‘Mist!’.
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Ever been in a conversation where you just can’t make heads or tails of what’s going on? In German, they say ‘Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof’ – meaning ‘I only understand train station’.
It’s the equivalent of saying ‘It’s all Greek to me’.
Apparently, during WWI, soldiers only understood one thing: when the train was coming to take them home. So next time you're lost in translation, just think of the nearest train station and nod along!
Fix und fertig
Forget saying ‘Ich bin müde’ when you're wiped out. Instead, try ‘Ich bin fix und fertig’.
It might sound like you're ‘quick and ready’, but it actually means ‘I’m completely exhausted’.
So, when you’re on your last nerve after a long day, just tell people you're "fix and finished!"
Lügen haben kurze Beine
Caught someone in a lie? In Germany, they say ‘Lügen haben kurze Beine’ – ‘Lies have short legs’.
The idea is simple: the truth has a long stride, but lies can only hop along for so long before they trip over themselves. So, don’t worry; they won’t get too far with those tiny legs.
Um den heißen Brei herumreden
In Germany, they don’t beat around the bush – they go straight for the hot mash! But if you’re tired of someone dancing around the topic, you can tell them: ‘Rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum’, which means: ‘Stop talking around the hot mash’.
So, cut to the chase, please – no need to stir the porridge any longer!
Da steppt der Bär
Looking for the best party in town? If you hear someone say ‘Da steppt der Bär’ – ‘The bear is dancing there’ – you know you're headed to the ultimate fun zone.
No, there’s no bear, but there sure is plenty of action. Next time you throw a party, you can guarantee everyone will know where the fun’s at when you promise them ‘Da steppt der Bär!’.
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