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Idioms are phrases or expressions whose meanings cannot be understood from the literal meanings of the individual words. They add color and personality to a language, but they can also be confusing for learners. This chapter will introduce you to some common German idioms, along with their meanings and examples of how to use them.

What are Idioms?

Idioms are fixed expressions that have a figurative meaning that is different from the literal meaning of the words they contain. They are often culture-specific and can provide insight into a language’s history and way of thinking.

Why Learn Idioms?

Improved Comprehension: Recognizing idioms will help you understand spoken and written German more accurately.

More Natural Speech: Using idioms in your own speech will make you sound more fluent and natural.

Cultural Understanding: Idioms reflect cultural values and attitudes.

Enrichment of Language: Idioms add richness and expressiveness to your vocabulary.

Common German Idioms

Here are some common German idioms, with their meanings and examples:

Da steppt der Bär! (dah shtepht dare bair) – «The bear is dancing there!»

Meaning: There’s a real party going on; it’s a lively and exciting event.

Example: Auf der Party steppte der Bär! (auf dare par-tee shtep-te dare bair) – The party was really rocking!

Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen (dayn nah-gel auf dayn kopf tref-fen) – «To hit the nail on the head.»

Meaning: To be exactly right; to identify the core of a problem or issue.

Example: Du hast den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen! (doo hast dayn nah-gel auf dayn kopf ge-trof-fen) – You hit the nail on the head!

Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. (ah-les hat ain en-de, noor dee voorst hat tsvai) – «Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.»

Meaning: Everything comes to an end; even good things don’t last forever.

Example: Wir müssen jetzt gehen. Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. (veer mü-ssen yetst gay-en. ah-les hat ain en-de, noor dee voorst hat tsvai) – We have to go now. Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.

Jemandem die Daumen drücken (yay-man-dem dee dau-men drü-ken) – «To press one’s thumbs for someone.»

Meaning: To wish someone good luck; to keep one’s fingers crossed for someone.

Example: Ich drücke dir die Daumen für deine Prüfung! (ihh drü-ke deer dee dau-men für dai-ne prü-fung) – I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your exam!

Das ist nicht mein Bier! (das ist niht main beer) – «That’s not my beer!»

Meaning: That’s not my problem; that’s not my concern.

Example: Ich kenne mich damit nicht aus, das ist nicht mein Bier. (ihh ke-ne mihh da-mit niht aus, das ist niht main beer) – I don’t know anything about that, it’s not my problem.

Ich habe die Nase voll! (ihh hah-be dee nah-ze fol) – «I have the nose full!»

Meaning: I’m fed up; I’m tired of it.

Example: Ich habe die Nase voll von deiner ewigen Beschwerde! (ihh hah-be dee nah-ze fol fon dai-ner ay-vi-gen be-shvayr-de) – I’m fed up with your constant complaining!

In den sauren Apfel beißen (in dayn zau-ren ahp-fel bai-sen) – «To bite into the sour apple.»

Meaning: To face an unpleasant task or situation; to bite the bullet.

Example: Ich muss in den sauren Apfel beißen und die Arbeit beenden. (ihh moos in dayn zau-ren ahp-fel bai-sen unt dee ar-bait be-en-den) – I have to bite the bullet and finish the work.

Die Katze im Sack kaufen (dee kat-se im zak kau-fen) – «To buy a cat in a sack.»

Meaning: To buy something sight unseen; to take a risk without knowing the details.

Example: Du solltest das Auto nicht die Katze im Sack kaufen. (doo zol-test das au-to niht dee kat-se im zak kau-fen) – You shouldn’t buy the car sight unseen.

Aus dem Schneider sein (aus dame shnai-der zain) – «To be out of the tailor.»

Meaning: To be out of trouble; to be in the clear.

Example: Nachdem ich die Prüfung bestanden habe, bin ich aus dem Schneider. (nahh-dem ihh dee prü-fung be-shtan-den hah-be, bin ihh aus dem shnai-der) – After passing the exam, I’m in the clear.

Leben wie Gott in Frankreich (lay-ben vee got in frank-raihh) – «To live like God in France.»

Meaning: To live a life of luxury and ease; to live the high life.

Example: Er lebt wie Gott in Frankreich mit seinem neuen Job. (air laypt vee got in frank-raihh mit zai-nem noi-en yop) – He’s living the high life with his new job.

Word Bank

die Redewendung (dee ray-de-ven-dung) – idiom

der Bär (dare bair) – the bear

der Nagel (dare nah-gel) – the nail

der Kopf (dare kopf) – the head

die Wurst (dee voorst) – the sausage

die Daumen (dee dau-men) – the thumbs

das Bier (das beer) – the beer

die Nase (dee nah-ze) – the nose

der Apfel (dare ahp-fel) – the apple

die Katze (dee kat-se) – the cat

der Sack (dare zak) – the sack

der Schneider (dare shnai-der) – the tailor

Gott (got) – God

Frankreich (frank-raihh) – France

Tips for Learning Idioms

Context is Key: Pay attention to the context in which the idiom is used to understand its meaning.

Don’t Translate Literally: Idioms rarely translate directly; focus on the figurative meaning.

Use Flashcards: Create flashcards with the idiom on one side and the meaning and example sentence on the other.

Listen and Read: Pay attention to how native speakers use idioms in conversations and written texts.

Practice: Use the idioms in your own speech and writing to solidify your understanding.

Exercises

Match the German idioms from the list with their English equivalents:

Da steppt der Bär!

Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen

Das ist nicht mein Bier!

Ich habe die Nase voll!

a) That’s not my problem!

b) I’m fed up!

c) Hit the nail on the head

d) The party’s rocking!

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom:

Ich kann dir leider nicht helfen, das ist __________.

Du hast genau das Problem erkannt, du hast __________.

Nach der langen Reise war ich total erschöpft, aber jetzt bin ich __________.

Translate the following sentences into German, using idioms:

I’m keeping my fingers crossed for your interview!

You have to bite the bullet and tell him the truth.

He’s living the high life in his new apartment.

Create five original sentences in German, using different idioms from this chapter.

Research other German idioms.

That completes Chapter 19 on common German idioms! I hope you enjoyed learning these colorful expressions and that they will add a new dimension to your German language skills. Remember to practice using them in your own speech and writing to truly master them.