61 Frequent German Idioms For Extra Inventive Conversations
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For those who’re making an attempt to get the ball rolling on having extra inventive conversations with native German audio system, then it’s time to interrupt the ice by studying German idioms (Redewendung). Right here’s the kicker: Simply as a non-native English speaker could be left with their wires crossed studying this paragraph, you may additionally really feel a problem making heads or tails of idioms in German when translated phrase for phrase.
Just like German slang, you want context to get a transparent image of how to boost dialog with idiomatic phrases. So, komm auf den grünen Zweig (“come onto the inexperienced department” or make a profitable begin) with native German audio system and study the way to converse German with the very best German idioms.
From the horse’s mouth: What’s an idiom?
Idioms, typically known as idiomatic phrases, are expressions whose meanings aren’t apparent if you have a look at their literal wording. They’re quirky methods individuals can use language to speak meanings figuratively. For instance, listening to info from somebody with firsthand data on the matter is thought in English as “listening to it from the horse’s mouth,” no matter whether or not that somebody is a horse, human, or one thing else totally.
Utilizing and understanding idiomatic German phrases in your every day communications helps you keep away from confusion and slot in with teams of native German audio system. It takes your conversations past a easy good morning in German or hi there in German to a extra inventive interplay with extra cultural context. Idioms may even be a pleasant dialog segway into the cultural historical past behind these non-literal phrases!
16 English to German idioms with the identical which means
Whereas many idioms are nonsensical when actually translated, you’ll be able to match idioms from English to German idioms once they share the identical which means. You can begin with the similarities between German and English whereas increasing your language expertise to make German straightforward to study. The idioms under will be matched nearly phrase for phrase with—and share the identical messages as—frequent idioms utilized in on a regular basis English conversations.
Taten sagen mehr als Worte
That means: Actions converse louder than phrases.
This idiom emphasizes that what individuals do is extra important than what they are saying. It’s straightforward to speak about your motives and values, however true character and intentions are revealed by what is finished quite than guarantees alone.
- Er verspricht immer, sich zu ändern, aber Taten sagen mehr als Worte. = He at all times guarantees to alter, however actions converse louder than phrases.
Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen
That means: Hit the nail on the top
When somebody has “hit the nail on the top,” they’ve completely identified the core of a problem or stated one thing precisely proper. You may praise somebody’s eager commentary and direct the dialog to a sure level with this saying.
- Er hat den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen, als er sagte, dass wir mehr Zeit für die Vorbereitung brauchen. = He hit the nail on the top when he stated we want extra time for preparation.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm
That means: The apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree.
Likening the tree’s creation of apples to the mum or dad’s creation of their youngsters, this idiom is used to spotlight similarities between mum or dad and offspring. You may level out how traits, habits, and traits are handed from one era to the subsequent by sprinkling this German idiom into dialog.
- Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm, er hat genauso viel Geduld wie sein Vater. = The apple doesn’t fall removed from the tree; he has as a lot persistence as his father.
Different English and German idioms with the identical which means
Listed below are a number of extra German idioms that march wording and which means with English idioms to spherical out your first step into extra inventive German conversations:
| German Idiom | Equal English Idiom | That means |
| alle Eier in eine Korb legen | to place all of your eggs in a single basket | to place all hopes and efforts into one factor |
| Auf Wolke sieben sein. | on cloud 9 | being extraordinarily completely satisfied |
| Das Gras ist immer grüner auf der anderen Seite | The grass is at all times greener on the opposite facet. | Different conditions appear higher than your individual, nevertheless it’s hardly ever true. |
| Das Handtuch werfen. | throw within the towel | to surrender or admit defeat. |
| Den Stier bei den Hörnern packen. | seize the bull by the horns | to deal decisively with a tough or harmful state of affairs. |
| Die Ärmel hochkrempeln. | roll up your sleeves | to get able to work arduous |
| Ein Wolf im Schafspelz. | a wolf in sheep’s clothes | Somebody who hides malicious intent underneath the guise of kindliness. |
| Einen klaren Kopf haben. | preserving a transparent head | sustaining a peaceful, level-headed mindset |
| Jede Wolke hat einen Silberstreifen. | Each cloud has its silver lining. | There may be at all times a constructive side to disagreeable conditions. |
| Kein Dach über dem Kopf haben. | I don’t have a roof over my head. | I’m homeless/unhoused. |
| Weine nicht über verschüttete Milch. | Don’t cry over spilt milk. | There isn’t a level in being upset over one thing that has already occurred. |
| Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. | kill two birds with one stone | fixing two points on the similar time with one motion |
| Zwei Gesichter haben. | being two-faced | having two sides to at least one’s character |
15 humorous German idioms that make no sense in English
Preserve issues informal together with your German buddies and share within the creativity of the German language by exploring these humorous German idioms. You may take pleasure in snigger as you learn the literal translations of those German idioms in English, then come throughout as an actual jokester as you discover ways to embody them in dialog.
Du kannst du Present drauf nehmen
Whereas it could appear counterintuitive, this saying actually interprets to “you’ll be able to take poison on that,” which means that one thing is a certain factor. The intention is that you’d stake one thing as severe as your life on a specific consequence or occasion.
- Ich habe sehr viel studiert, additionally werde ich den Check bestehen. Du kannst dir Present drauf nehmen! = I studied loads, so I’ll cross the take a look at. You may wager your life on that!
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Just like the English phrase “the early chicken will get the worm,” this idiom is used to encourage you to get up early and to encourage arduous work within the morning hours. The phrase actually interprets to “The morning hour has gold within the mouth,” which means there’s wealth to be earned within the wee hours of the morning for many who declare it.
- Mein Chef sagt immer, wir sollen um sechs anfangen, weil Morgenstund Gold im Mund hat. = My boss at all times says we must always begin at six as a result of the morning hour is golden.
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
For those who’ve opened the floodgates of utilizing native idioms with a local German speaker and now they’re utilizing idiomatic phrases you don’t know, then you need to use this phrase to specific your confusion. This idiom means “I solely perceive ‘prepare station’.”
- Er hat so viel über Technik geredet, dass ich nur Bahnhof verstehe. = He talked a lot about expertise, and I didn’t perceive a phrase of it.
One principle means that this phrase comes from again when individuals traveled largely by prepare within the nineteenth century. A overseas traveler arriving at a prepare station would possibly solely be accustomed to fundamental native phrases like Bahnhof (prepare station) whereas touring, so they could have stated this to speak a restricted understanding of what an individual stated.
Different humorous German idioms
Take pleasure in fun amongst buddies with these different humorous idioms in German that don’t at all times have an English equal:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | That means |
| Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. | Every little thing has its finish—solely sausages have two. | All issues should come to an finish. |
| Die Daumen drücken. | press the thumbs | Wishing somebody luck, like crossing your fingers |
| Du gehst mir auf den Keks. | You’re going on my biscuit. | You’re irritating me. |
| dumm wie Bohnenstroh | dumb as a beanstalk | calling somebody/one thing unintelligent |
| Eine Extrawurst verlangen. | demand an additional sausage | to insist upon particular remedy |
| Etwas wie seine Westentasche kennen. | to know one thing like your vest pocket | understanding one thing very properly |
| jacke wie Hose | jacket like pants | It doesn’t matter both method. |
| Jemandem die Haare vom Kopf fressen. | consuming the hairs from somebody’s head | consuming a whole lot of meals when another person pays for it |
| Kein Schwein conflict da. | No pig was there. | Nobody was in attendance. |
| Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten. | Shoemaker, keep on with your commerce. | Reminds somebody to cease speaking about one thing they know nothing about. |
| Tomaten auf den Augen haben. | have tomato on the eyes | not seeing one thing or being blind to it |
| Zwei linke Hände haben | having two left fingers | being unskilled in doing one thing or not being dexterous |
14 animal-inspired idioms in German
Ever because the first Märchen (fairy tales) had been written, animals and their traits have been an inspiration for language and figurative which means. Whether or not you Elefanten aus einer Mücke machen (“make an elephant out of a mosquito” or make an enormous deal out of nothing) or when you’re bekannt wie ein bunter Hund (“well-known as a coloured canine” which means somebody is thought by everybody), these idioms convey the wild kingdom into on a regular basis communication.
Da steppt der Bär
Think about you’re strolling down a metropolis road one evening if you hear loud music coming from a hangout spot or the membership. You look inside to see everybody in there actually having fun with the get together, throwing round streamers and dancing with one another. You need to convey your buddy to the occasion so that you go dwelling and inform them da steppt der Bär or “the bear dances there,” to explain the get together as a really enjoyable occasion.
- Hier steppt der Bär, wenn der DJ anfängt zu spielen. = This get together will likely be rocking when the DJ begins taking part in.
Whilst you usually wouldn’t need a get together with actual bears round, this phrase probably stems from the normal picture of performing bears in historic festivals or circuses.
Sich zum Affen machen
For those who’ve ever acted foolishly or stated one thing you later realized was fairly gauche, then it could possibly be stated that you simply hast dich zum Affen gemacht or “made an ape of your self.”
- Ich will bei der Präsentation nichts falsch machen, sonst mache ich mich vor allen zum Affen. = I don’t need to mess up throughout the presentation; in any other case, I’ll make a idiot of myself in entrance of everybody.
Different animal-inspired German idioms
Listed below are a number of of the very best German idioms that check with animals to convey your smart sayings a step nearer to nature:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | That means |
| alles für die Katz’ | every little thing for the cat | exerting nice effort to no avail |
| Die Kuh vom Eis holen. | getting the cow off the ice | fixing a difficult drawback |
| Ein Vogel haben. | having a chicken | going loopy |
| Eine Katze mit Handschuhen fängt keine Mäuse. | A cat with gloves catches no mice. | You gained’t get what you need when you’re too cautious or comfy. |
| Einen Kater haben. | have a tomcat | to be hungover from consuming alcohol |
| Er weiß, wie der Hase läuft. | He is aware of the place the rabbit runs. | He’s skilled or well-versed in one thing. |
| Eulen nach Athen tragen. | bringing owls to Athens | doing one thing pointless/redundant |
| Hahn im Korb sein. | being the rooster within the basket | being the focus, typically of the alternative gender |
| Ich glaube, ich spinne. | I consider that I spider. | I really feel that I’m going loopy. |
| Ich glaube, mein Schwein pfeift. | I consider my pig is whistling. | if you don’t consider one thing to be true |
| Keinen Bock haben. | having no billy goat | Once you’re not thinking about one thing in any respect. Omit keinen to imply you have an interest. |
| Mit den Wölfen heulen. | to howl with the wolves | Mix in with the locals by doing what the locals do. Just like “when in Rome.” |
16 German idioms about meals to boost your speech
Your pricey grandmother’s cooking isn’t only a staple of life—it’s additionally a wealthy supply of cultural context. Get able to share on this tasty cultural mixing pot with German idioms impressed by basic German phrases for conventional meals.
Seinen Senf dazugeben
Once you’re in an vital enterprise assembly and want to listen to an opinion from somebody who has been quiet up till now, you’ll be able to ask them to “add their mustard” to the dialog or seinen Senf dazugeben.
- Wir hätten die perfekte Lösung nicht gefunden, wenn Lisa nicht ihren Senf dazu gegeben hätte. = We wouldn’t have discovered the right resolution if Lisa hadn’t added her two cents.
You may also use this idiom sarcastically when somebody’s enter just isn’t appreciated in any respect, for instance:
- Wir hätten uns längst entschieden, wenn er nicht ständig seinen Senf dazugeben würde. = We’d have determined way back if he didn’t maintain giving his enter.
Because the first Senf (mustard) manufacturing unit was inbuilt Germany in 1726, it has been a extremely popular staple of German condiments. It comes as no shock that much-needed enter from somebody is likened to the much-needed Senf on a bratwurst!
Klar wie Kloßbrühe
As soon as your physics-obsessed buddy has completed their impromptu lecture on the inside machinations of quantum physics, you’ll be able to sarcastically say that the topic is now klar wie Kloßbrühe (clear as dumpling broth) to you. The joke is that Kloßbrühe refers back to the broth from conventional German dumplings, which is something however clear as a result of starch and seasonings of the dish.
- Die neue Steuerregelung ist ja klar wie Kloßbrühe—komplizierter geht’s nicht! = The brand new tax regulation is as clear as dumpling broth—it couldn’t be extra difficult!
Different food-fueled German idioms
See how else meals has spiced up the German language with these food-related idioms within the chart under:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | That means |
| Da frisst ja kein Brot. | It doesn’t eat any bread. | It gained’t do any hurt, so maintain it. |
| Da haben wir den Salat. | There we now have the salad. | We’re in an enormous mess. Can be utilized as an “I advised you so.” |
| Das Gelbe vom Ei sein. | be the yellow of the egg | one thing that is superb or pleasurable |
| Das Haar in der Suppe suchen. | trying to find hair within the soup | trying to find points or fault with one thing |
| Das ist mir Wurst. | That’s sausage to me. | I don’t care about that. |
| Das Salz in der Suppe sein. | to be the salt of the soup | being the important a part of one thing |
| Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen. | to behave just like the offended liver sausage | When somebody is definitely offended. |
| Die Salamitaktik anwenden. | to make use of the salami tactic | utilizing a stealthy strategy to disclose the reality little by little |
| Die Suppe auslöffeln, die ein anderer eingebrockt hat | to serve soup made by another person | to scrub up another person’s mess |
| Du hast mir die Suppe versalzen. | You’ve oversalted my soup. | You’ve spoiled issues for me. |
| Es ist alles in Butter. | Every little thing is in butter. | I’m high-quality/every little thing is nice. |
| Es ist nicht mein Bier. | It’s not my beer. | That’s not my concern. |
| In den sauren Apfel beißen. | to chew the bitter apple | enduring an disagreeable state of affairs |
| Um den heißen Brei herumreden. | quibbling across the scorching porridge | Not addressing the vital level. Just like “beating across the bush.” |
Now that you simply’re well-versed in a few of the commonest idioms that Germans use, strive them out with buddies or household who will likely be amused at your new German language expertise. And when you’re scheduled to work with a Rosetta Stone tutor, shock them with a number of new idiomatic phrases!
