Thought German was a boring, staid language? These evocative idiomatic phrases in German are sure to make you think again!
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1. Sturmfrei haben/sturmfreie Bude haben
Literal meaning: For things to be still (in the house), no gales are blowing
Idiomatic meaning: Your significant other/kids are out of the house and you’ve got the place to yourself.
Time to crack open a beer or pour a generous glass of wine and binge your favourite Netflix series. You love your family, but ain’t it great when you can just hang out on the sofa on your own and do what you want without interference?
2. Als Tiger gesprungen und als Bettvorleger gelandet
Literal meaning: To jump/take off as a tiger, but land as a bedside rug
Idiomatic meaning: This someone has started off with all guns blazing and talking a big game, but has ended up being cut down to size and humiliated.
3. So wie man in den Wald hineinschreit, so schallt es wieder raus
Literal meaning: What you yell into the woods will echo back out of the woods
Idiomatic meaning: Do unto others as you would be done by, what goes around comes around
4. Der Krug geht so lange zum Brunnen, bis er bricht
Literal meaning: The beer krug is taken to the sprung until it breaks
Idiomatic meaning: This phrase is used to describe (usually damaging) behaviours that are continued until such time as it’s no longer possible.
5. Das Kind ist schon in den Brunnen gefallen
Literal meaning: The child has already fallen into the fountain
Idiomatic equivalent: To shut the stable door after the horse has bolted; it’s too late
6. (Jemanden) Zwangsbeglücken
Literal meaning: To compel someone to feel happy
Idiomatic meaning: To force something of rather doubtful value on someone, who is supposed or expected to be happy/grateful about it (but isn’t really)
7. Den Bock zum Gärtner machen
Literal meaning: To appoint the billy goat as gardener
Idiomatic meaning: To put the arsonist in charge of putting out the fire
8. Die Rechnung ohne den Wirt machen
Literal meaning: To draw up the bill without involving the publican
Idiomatic meaning: To count one’s chicken’s before they are hatched, to hatch plans without involving the most influential stakeholder
9. Leben wie Gott in Frankreich
Literal meaning: To live like God in France
Idiomatic meaning: To live the life of Riley
10. Da liegt der Hund begraben, da liegt der Hase im Pfeffer
Literal meaning: That’s where the dog is buried, that’s where the hare is in the pepper
Idiomatic meaning: There is the crux of the problem
11. Nicht geschimpft ist genug gelobt
Literal meaning: Not having told you off is praise enough
Idiomatic meaning: Don’t expect fulsome praise from me for doing something which should be a given/for doing something in a mediocre way.
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Other language articles which you might enjoy…
German & Austrian German – fantastic words and phrases everyone should know about
English words with Arabic origins
English words of Indian origin
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