More German Idioms: Feelings, Numbers, Proverbs

Idioms with numbers

Unter vier Augen, auf Wolke sieben

Numbers appear in many German idioms, often where English uses none. The big numeral is the key to remembering each one.

German and English side by side

Same idea, different picture

Some idioms match English closely; others express the same idea with a completely different image. Read across each row.

German	Word for word	English idiom	Match
den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen	hit the nail on the head	to hit the nail on the head	same
ins Gras beißen	bite into the grass	to bite the dust	close
die Katze im Sack kaufen	buy the cat in the sack	to buy a pig in a poke	close
sich zum Affen machen	make yourself into a monkey	to make a fool of yourself	different
eine Extrawurst wollen	want an extra sausage	to want special treatment	different
nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben	not have all cups in the cupboard	to have a screw loose	different
jemandem reinen Wein einschenken	pour someone pure wine	to give it to someone straight	different
das Haar in der Suppe suchen	look for the hair in the soup	to nitpick	different

Sprichwörter: the proverbs Germans quote

Übung macht den Meister

Proverbs are complete sentences of folk wisdom. Germans drop them into conversation, often only the first half, trusting you to know the rest.

Übungpracticemachtmakesden Meister.the master

Ü-bung MAKHT dain MAI-ster

“Practice makes perfect.”The proverb every German learner hears from their teacher.

AllerallAnfangbeginningistisschwer.hard

A-ler AN-fang ist SHVAIR

“Every beginning is hard.”Encouragement when starting something new.

Morgenstundmorning-hourhathasGoldgoldim Mund.in-the mouth

MOR-gen-shtunt hat GOLT im MUNT

“The early bird catches the worm.”Literally, “the morning hour has gold in its mouth”.

WerwhoAAsagt,saysmussmustauchalsoBBsagen.say

vair AA ZAAKT, mus aukh BAY ZAA-gen

“In for a penny, in for a pound.”Once you start, you have to follow through.

Der Apfelthe applefälltfallsnichtnotweitfarvom Stamm.from-the trunk

dair AP-fel FELT nikht VAIT fom SHTAM

“The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”Nearly identical to English.

VielemanyKöchecooksverderbenspoilden Brei.the porridge

FEE-le KÖ-khe fer-DER-ben dain BRAI

“Too many cooks spoil the broth.”Brei is porridge or mash.

Using idioms in a sentence

Fixed words, moving verb

The words of an idiom never change, but the verb still follows normal word order: second place in a statement, at the end after weil or dass, and as a participle in the perfect tense.

Statement: verb second

IchIhabehavedie Nasethe nosevoll.full

ikh HAA-be dee NAA-ze FOL · “I’m fed up.”

After weil: verb last

…, weilbecauseichIdie Nasethe nosevollfullhabe.have

vail ikh dee NAA-ze FOL HAA-be · “… because I’m fed up.”

Perfect: hat … getroffen

Erhehathasden Nagelthe nailauf den Kopfon the headgetroffen.hit

air HAT dain NAA-gel auf dain KOPF ge-TRO-fen · “He hit the nail on the head.”

Animal idioms

Da steppt der Bär, ich glaub, mein Schwein pfeift

German idioms are full of animals, often in surprising roles. Each shows the literal picture and the real meaning.

Food idioms

Das ist mir Wurst

Sausage, cheese and bread turn up in some of the most common everyday idioms.

Dasthatist miris to-meWurst.sausage

das ist meer VURST · “I couldn’t care less.”

Alleseverythinghat ein Ende,has an endnur die Wurstonly the sausagehat zwei.has two

A-les hat ain EN-de, noor dee VURST hat TSVAI · “All good things come to an end.”

Das istthat isdochPARTKäse!cheese

das ist dokh KAY-ze · “That’s nonsense!”

Das istthat isnichtnotmein Bier.my beer

das ist nikht main BEER · “That’s not my problem.”

Esitgeht umis aboutdie Wurst.the sausage

es gayt um dee VURST · “It’s now or never.”

Erhegibtgivesseinen Senfhis mustarddazu.to-it

air GIPT ZAI-nen ZENF da-TSOO · “He adds his two cents.”

Keep going

More German idioms: auf dem Schlauch stehen, die Nase voll haben, and why my pig is whistling