Want to pass as a native German speaker? Brush up on these ‘Redensarten’ (known in English as idioms). These are everyday sayings used to express emotions and thoughts.
Here we share some of the funniest German idioms and sayings to use in everyday conversations:
German phrase |
Literal Translation |
Explanation |
| Hummeln im Hintern haben
|
Have bumblebees in your bum
|
To have ants in your pants
|
| Seinen Senf dazu geben
|
Add one’s mustard
|
To put in your two cents
|
| Nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank haben
|
Not have all the cups in the cupboard anymore
|
To have a screw loose
|
| Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen
|
Where fox and hare say goodnight to one another
|
Out in the sticks
|
| Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
|
I only understand train station
|
It’s all Greek to me
|
| Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
|
To sleep like a marmot
|
To sleep like a log
|
| Jetzt geht’s um die Wurst
|
Now it’s about the sausage
|
It’s now or never
|
| Holla die Waidfee
|
Holla the wood fairy
|
Well, I never!
|
| Aus allen Wolken fallen
|
Fall from all clouds
|
To be flabbergasted
|
| die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen
|
Play the offended liver sausage
|
To be in a huff
|
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