5.31 Idioms and proverbs — Epoché
What you will be able to do Understand forty-two common German idioms and eighteen proverbs, from die Daumen drücken and ins Fettnäpfchen treten to Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund . Find the English equivalent, which often uses a different image: German buys a cat in a sack, English a pig in a poke. Use an idiom correctly in a sentence: know which parts change and which are fixed. Judge the register: most idioms are informal, some are fine in writing, a few are slightly rude. Sentences from this lesson, before the explanation. Read the German aloud; all of them come back below. German English Ich habe ein Hühnchen mit dir zu rupfen. [1] I have a bone to pick with you. Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. [2] To kill two birds with one stone. Du kannst doch nicht einfach so die Flinte ins Korn werfen! [3] You can't give up like this. Nach zwei Jahren ohne Übung habe ich alles vergessen, was ich wusste. [4] After two years without practising, I've forgotten everything I knew. Ich habe heute einen Kater. [5] I've got a hangover today. Triffst du dich nicht mit jemandem? [6] Aren't you dating anyone? Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern. [7] Birds of a feather flock together. Mein Kater hält sich für einen Hund. [8] My cat thinks he's a dog. Prerequisites : 5.30 — you need the registers of 5.19 Vocabulary . Idioms, Redewendungen , and proverbs, Sprichwörter , are the part of a language that a dictionary explains worst. Their meaning is not the sum of their words: Schwein haben has nothing to do with pigs, and nur Bahnhof verstehen nothing to do with railways. Germans use idioms constantly in conversation, in newspaper headlines and in advertising, often with a twist. You do not need to use many of them yourself, but you need to recognise them. This lesson gives sixty of the most frequent, with the closest English equivalent and the literal image, which helps you remember them. Word list Sixty idioms and proverbs in four groups: the body, animals, food and things, everyday situations, and proverbs. The body Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes die Daumen drücken de to keep one's fingers crossed Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs German presses the thumbs; English crosses the fingers. Drücke die Daumen. [9] Cross your fingers. die Nase voll haben de to be fed up Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to have one's nose full . Er hat die Nase voll. [10] He is fed up. Hals- und Beinbruch de good luck!, break a leg! Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally neck and leg fracture ; said before an exam or a performance, like break a leg . Hals- und Beinbruch! [11] Break a leg! unter vier Augen de in private, one to one Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally under four eyes : only two people present. Können wir unter vier Augen reden? [12] Could we talk in private? den Kopf in den Sand stecken de to bury one's head in the sand Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs As in English. Stecke nicht den Kopf in den Sand! [13] Don't bury your head in the sand. die Haare stehen zu Berge de one's hair stands on end Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Here zu Berge means upwards : the hair stands up. Das ließ mir die Haare zu Berge stehen. [14] It made my hair stand on end. mit dem falschen Fuß aufstehen de to get out of bed on the wrong side Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs German has the wrong foot, English the wrong side. Er ist mit dem falschen Fuß aufgestanden. [15] He's got out on the wrong side of bed. Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben de to have butterflies in one's stomach Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs In German usually from being in love. Ich habe Schmetterlinge im Bauch. [16] I have butterflies in my stomach. die Ohren steif halten de to keep one's chin up Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to keep one's ears stiff . Halt die Ohren steif! [17] Keep your chin up! ein Auge zudrücken de to turn a blind eye, to let something pass Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to close one eye . Dieses Mal werde ich ein Auge zudrücken. [18] I'll let it go this time. Hand und Fuß haben de to be well thought out Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to have hand and foot : an argument that stands. Das hat Hand und Fuß. [19] That stands to reason. es faustdick hinter den Ohren haben de to be a sly one Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to have it fist-thick behind the ears . Der hat es faustdick hinter den Ohren. [20] He's a sly one. auf den Arm nehmen de to pull someone's leg Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs English pulls the leg; German takes you on its arm like a child. Du nimmst mich auf den Arm. [21] You're putting me on. Animals, food and things Word (article, plural) Meaning Notes Schwein haben de to be lucky Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Colloquial; the pig is a German symbol of luck, das Glücksschwein . Ihr habt Schwein gehabt. [22] You guys were lucky. die Katze im Sack kaufen de to buy a pig in a poke Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs German buys a cat, English a pig. Kauf keine Katze im Sack. [23] Don't buy a pig in a poke. alles in Butter de everything is fine Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally all in butter . Es ist alles in Butter. [24] Everything's hunky-dory. seinen Senf dazugeben de to put in one's two cents Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to add one's mustard : an opinion nobody asked for. Wollte nur meinen Senf dazugeben... [25] Just my 2 cents... einen Kater haben de to have a hangover Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs der Kater is also a tomcat. Er hat einen Kater. [26] He has a hangover. ein Hühnchen zu rupfen haben de to have a bone to pick Gender / part of speech idiom How English differs Literally to have a little chicken to pluck . Ich habe mit dir