Germany has quite an obsession for its little sayings, phrases and proverbs. You may be learning German already or have a basic knowledge of the language, but all the sudden you are complete at loss in a conversation, because your conversation partner starts talking about an elephant in a porcelain store or a gifted horse… like what in the hell???
When I first decided to do a text about the subject I started googling German proverbs and was stunned to see how many there are, like pages and pages of phrases and words. So, I will keep this somewhat brief and pick out the best and funniest.
German Saying |
Literal English translation |
Meaning |
Einen Affenzirkus veranstalten |
to host a monkey circus |
throw a tantrum over something |
In den sauren Apfel beißen |
bite in to a sour apple |
do something you dread |
Nur Bahnhof verstehen |
understand only main train station |
don’t understand what is going on |
Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden |
to tie a bear on to your back |
telling someone a lie |
Nicht alle auf dem Christbaum haben |
don’t have everything up on the Christmas tree |
someone that isn’t quite right in their mind |
Einen Dachschaden haben |
to have a damaged roof |
another phrase for someone not right in their mind |
Dreck am Stecken haben |
to have dirt on your stick |
someone with a shady past |
Sich wie ein Elefant im Porzellanladen benehmen |
behave like an elephant in a porcelain shop |
to be rude, loud and tactless |
Eulen nach Athen tragen |
to carry owls to Athens |
doing an unnecessary wasteful task |
Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen |
to hit 2 flies with a shutter |
to solve 2 or more problems at once |
Einen Frosch im Hals haben |
to have a frog in your throat |
when you talk with a hoarse voice |
Dort wo sich Fuchs und Hase Gute Nacht sagen |
where fox and hare say good night to each other |
a location away from civilisation |
Bei jemand/etwas auf Granit beißen |
to bite on granite with because of someone |
when your opponent is not giving in or is not opening for compromise |
Für jemanden die Hand ins Feuer legen |
to put your hand into a fire for someone |
when you completely trust someone |
Da liegt der Hase im Pfeffer |
there, the hare lays in the pepper |
this is the reason or the cause |
Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt! |
The dog is going crazy in the frying pan |
this is crazy! |
Das ist Jacke wie Hose |
this is jacket and pants |
it does not matter |
Eher geht ein Kamel durch das Nadelöhr |
a camel will walk through the eye of a needle before |
impossible task to complete |
Jetzt ist das Kind in den Brunnen gefallen |
now the child has fallen into the well |
now we have the result |
Ihm ist eine Laus über die Leber gelaufen |
a louse walked across his liver |
he is in a bad mood, grumpy |
Es ist zum Mäusemelken |
it is like milking mice |
something is not working out the way you want it to |
Er macht gerne aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten |
he likes to turn a mosquito into an elephant |
someone is making a bigger deal then needed out of something |
Jemandem einen vom Pferd erzählen |
to tell someone a story about a horse |
someone is lying to you |
In die Puschen kommen |
to get into your slippers |
you better hurry up |
Die Radieschen von unten betrachten |
to watch the radishes from below |
someone passed away |
Wie ein Rohrspatz schimpfen |
to curse like a reed bunting |
if someone is yelling and angry |
Sich freuen wie ein Schneekönig |
they are happy like a snow king |
when someone is really happy about something |
Ich glaub’, mein Schwein pfeift |
I think my pig is whistling |
when you are surprised, astonished about something |
Einen an der Waffel haben |
to have something on your waffle |
someone that is crazy, out of their mind |
Das ist mir wurst (wurscht) |
that is sausage to me |
it does not matter to me |
As you can see the translations don’t always make sense. But knowing the meaning makes it much easier. Have fun trying to use them with your German friends.
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