The Collection
All Sayings
311 German phrases that make perfect sense… in German.
Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.
“Everything has an end, only the sausage has two.”
All good things must come to an end.
Du hast Tomaten auf den Augen.
“You have tomatoes on your eyes.”
You are blind to something obvious.
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.
“I only understand train station.”
I don't understand anything that's being said.
Da steppt der Bär.
“The bear is doing the step dance there.”
It's going to be a great party.
Jetzt geht es um die Wurst.
“Now it's about the sausage.”
Now it gets serious. This is the moment of truth.
Leben und leben lassen.
“Live and let live.”
Live and let live.
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund.
“Morning hour has gold in its mouth.”
The early bird catches the worm.
Ich drücke dir die Daumen.
“I press my thumbs for you.”
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.
Das ist nicht mein Bier.
“That's not my beer.”
That's not my problem. That's none of my business.
Alles in Butter.
“Everything in butter.”
Everything is fine. All good.
Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen.
“To hit two flies with one flap.”
To kill two birds with one stone.
Einen Vogel haben.
“To have a bird.”
To be a little crazy.
Da liegt der Hund begraben.
“There the dog is buried.”
That's the crux of the matter. That's the real issue.
Schwein haben.
“To have pig.”
To be lucky.
Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen.
“To hit the nail on the head.”
To be exactly right.
Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben.
“Not to have all cups in the cupboard.”
To not be all there mentally. To be a bit crazy.
Das kommt mir spanisch vor.
“That seems Spanish to me.”
That seems strange or suspicious to me.
Auf großem Fuß leben.
“To live on a big foot.”
To live extravagantly. To live beyond your means.
Hals- und Beinbruch!
“Neck and leg break!”
Break a leg! Good luck!
Ich glaube, mich laust der Affe.
“I think the monkey is delousing me.”
I can't believe it! Well, I'll be darned!
Die Katze aus dem Sack lassen.
“To let the cat out of the bag.”
To reveal a secret.
Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen.
“No master has yet fallen from heaven.”
Nobody is born an expert. Practice makes perfect.
April, April, der macht was er will.
“April, April, does what it wants.”
April weather is unpredictable. Also: April Fools!
Wer anderen eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein.
“He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself.”
What goes around comes around.
Mit jemandem durch dick und dünn gehen.
“To go through thick and thin with someone.”
To stand by someone through everything.
Auf den Busch klopfen.
“To knock on the bush.”
To fish for information. To probe cautiously.
Jemandem nicht das Schwarze unterm Nagel gönnen.
“Not to begrudge someone the black under their fingernail.”
To be extremely stingy or envious toward someone.
Petrus hat heute schlechte Laune.
“St. Peter is in a bad mood today.”
The weather is terrible today. (God's doorman controls the rain.)
Das ist Schnee von gestern.
“That's snow from yesterday.”
That's old news. That's water under the bridge.
Lügen haben kurze Beine.
“Lies have short legs.”
Lies don't get you far.
Eigenlob stinkt.
“Self-praise stinks.”
Bragging about yourself is off-putting.
Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her.
“The fish stinks from the head.”
Corruption and problems start at the top.
Die Hunde bellen, und die Karawane zieht weiter.
“The dogs bark, and the caravan moves on.”
Critics make noise, but the work continues.
Bellende Hunde beißen nicht.
“Barking dogs don't bite.”
Those who talk the most threaten the least.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm.
“The apple doesn't fall far from the trunk.”
Children take after their parents.
Die Ratten verlassen das sinkende Schiff.
“The rats abandon the sinking ship.”
People flee a failing situation.
Du siehst den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht.
“You don't see the forest for all the trees.”
You're too focused on details to see the big picture.
Aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen.
“To make an elephant out of a mosquito.”
To make a mountain out of a molehill.
Galle im Herzen, Honig im Mund.
“Bile in the heart, honey in the mouth.”
Two-faced: sweet to your face, bitter behind your back.
Halt's Maul, so fliegt dir keine Mücke hinein.
“Shut your mouth so no mosquito flies in.”
Keep quiet and you won't get in trouble.
Der Horcher an der Wand hört seine eigene Schand'.
“The eavesdropper at the wall hears his own shame.”
Those who eavesdrop often hear unpleasant things about themselves.
Eile mit Weile.
“Hurry with leisure.”
More haste, less speed.
Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer.
“One swallow doesn't yet make a summer.”
One good sign doesn't mean everything is fine.
Ende gut, alles gut.
“End good, all good.”
All's well that ends well.
Erst denken, dann lenken.
“First think, then steer.”
Think before you act.
Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.
“Not everything is gold that shines.”
Appearances can be deceiving.
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer.
“The burnt child shies away from fire.”
Once bitten, twice shy.
Geld macht nicht glücklich.
“Money doesn't make happy.”
Money can't buy happiness.
Geteilte Freude ist doppelte Freude.
“Shared joy is double joy.”
Joy is doubled when you share it with others.
Je mehr man die Katze streichelt, desto höher trägt sie den Schwanz.
“The more you pet the cat, the higher it carries its tail.”
Flatter someone and they get more arrogant.
Kleine Kessel haben große Ohren.
“Small kettles have big ears.”
Little kids are always listening.
Mitgefangen, mitgehangen.
“Caught together, hanged together.”
If you run with criminals, you'll hang with them too.
Nur tote Fische schwimmen mit dem Strom.
“Only dead fish swim with the current.”
Only the spineless go along with everything.
Übung macht den Meister.
“Practice makes the master.”
Practice makes perfect.
Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten.
“He who laughs last, laughs best.”
The final outcome determines the winner.
Wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es zurück.
“As you call into the forest, so it echoes back.”
You get back what you give.
Zu Nacht sind alle Katzen grau.
“At night all cats are gray.”
In the dark, all differences disappear.
Wissen ist Macht.
“Knowledge is power.”
Knowledge is power.
Sicher ist sicher.
“Safe is safe.”
Better safe than sorry.
Man sieht das Hirn nicht an der Stirn.
“You don't see the brain on the forehead.”
You can't judge intelligence by appearance.
Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben.
“One shouldn't praise the day before the evening.”
Don't celebrate until it's over.
Öl ins Feuer gießen.
“To pour oil into the fire.”
To make a bad situation worse.
Aller guten Dinge sind drei.
“All good things are three.”
Good things come in threes.
Alte Füchse gehen schwer in die Falle.
“Old foxes go hard into the trap.”
Experienced people are hard to fool.
Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst.
“Starting is easy, persisting is an art.”
Anyone can start something — finishing it is the hard part.
Aufgewärmter Kohl schmeckt nicht.
“Warmed-up cabbage doesn't taste good.”
Old quarrels shouldn't be rehashed.
Besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach.
“Better a sparrow in the hand than a dove on the roof.”
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Blut ist dicker als Wasser.
“Blood is thicker than water.”
Family bonds are stronger than friendships.
Das böse Gewissen verrät sich selbst.
“The guilty conscience betrays itself.”
Guilt shows on the face of the guilty.
Das Glück hilft den Kühnen.
“Luck helps the bold.”
Fortune favors the brave.
Der Weg zur Hölle ist mit guten Vorsätzen gepflastert.
“The road to hell is paved with good intentions.”
Good intentions without action lead nowhere good.
Ehrlich währt am längsten.
“Honest lasts the longest.”
Honesty is the best policy.
Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.
“A misfortune rarely comes alone.”
Bad luck comes in waves.
Gelernt ist gelernt.
“Learned is learned.”
Skills you've earned stay with you forever.
Jedem Narren gefällt seine Kappe.
“Every fool likes his own cap.”
Everyone thinks their own ideas are the best.
Jung getollt, alt gezollt.
“Frolicked young, paid old.”
You pay for the wild years when you're older.
In der Furt soll man die Pferde nicht wechseln.
“You shouldn't change horses at the ford.”
Don't change course in the middle of something difficult.
Verstand kommt mit den Jahren.
“Understanding comes with the years.”
Wisdom comes with age.
Man wirft keine Perlen vor die Säue.
“One doesn't throw pearls before swine.”
Don't waste good things on people who won't appreciate them.
Der Schein trügt.
“Appearances deceive.”
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Der Ton macht die Musik.
“The tone makes the music.”
It's not what you say, it's how you say it.
Das ist mir Wurst.
“That is sausage to me.”
I couldn't care less.
Da haben wir den Salat.
“There we have the salad.”
Now look at the mess we're in.
Jetzt ist der Ofen aus.
“Now the oven is off.”
Now it's over. That's the end of that.
Auf dem Holzweg sein.
“To be on the wooden path.”
To be completely on the wrong track.
Ich glaub', mein Schwein pfeift.
“I think my pig is whistling.”
I can't believe this.
Die Kirche im Dorf lassen.
“Leave the church in the village.”
Don't exaggerate. Keep things in proportion.
Eine Extrawurst verlangen.
“To demand an extra sausage.”
To ask for special treatment.
Das macht den Kohl nicht fett.
“That doesn't fatten the cabbage.”
That doesn't make any real difference.
Ich glaube, ich spinne.
“I think I'm spinning.”
I must be going crazy.
Aus Schaden wird man klug.
“From damage one becomes smart.”
We learn from our mistakes.
An den Früchten erkennt man den Baum.
“By the fruits one recognizes the tree.”
You know people by their actions.
Aus einem Stein ist schwer Öl pressen.
“It's hard to press oil from a stone.”
You can't get blood from a stone.
Steter Tropfen höhlt den Stein.
“A steady drop hollows the stone.”
Persistence wears down any obstacle.
Faulheit ist der Schlüssel zur Armut.
“Laziness is the key to poverty.”
If you're lazy, you'll end up poor.
Niemand ist unersetzlich.
“No one is unreplaceable.”
Nobody is indispensable.
Kehre vor deiner eigenen Tür.
“Sweep in front of your own door.”
Sort out your own problems before criticizing others.
Ein Heute ist besser als zehn Morgen.
“One today is better than ten tomorrows.”
A sure thing now beats ten uncertain promises.
Bald gegeben ist doppelt gegeben.
“Soon given is doubly given.”
A quick act of generosity is worth twice as much.
Ein Feind ist zuviel, hundert Freunde nicht genug.
“One enemy is too many, a hundred friends not enough.”
Even one enemy is a serious problem; you can never have too many friends.
Andere Länder, andere Sitten.
“Different countries, different customs.”
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Besser spät als nie.
“Better late than never.”
Better late than never.
Neue Besen kehren gut.
“New brooms sweep well.”
New people always start with a lot of enthusiasm.
Hunger ist der beste Koch.
“Hunger is the best cook.”
Everything tastes better when you are hungry.
Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold.
“Talking is silver, silence is gold.”
It is often better to say nothing.
Der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm.
“The early bird catches the worm.”
Those who start early have the advantage.
Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten.
“Shoemaker, stick to your lasts.”
Stick to what you know. Don't meddle in others' affairs.
Ein Auge zudrücken.
“To press one eye shut.”
To turn a blind eye. To let something slide.
Den Teufel nicht an die Wand malen.
“Don't paint the devil on the wall.”
Don't tempt fate by talking about bad things.
Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt.
“He who does not venture does not win.”
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist.
“One must forge the iron while it is hot.”
Strike while the iron is hot.
Vier Augen sehen mehr als zwei.
“Four eyes see more than two.”
Two people notice more than one.
Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.
“He who says A must also say B.”
If you start something, you have to see it through.
Wo Rauch ist, da ist auch Feuer.
“Where there is smoke, there is also fire.”
There is no smoke without fire.
Worte sind gut, wenn Werke folgen.
“Words are good when works follow.”
Actions speak louder than words.
Taten sagen mehr als Wörter.
“Deeds say more than words.”
Actions speak louder than words.
Vorbeugen ist besser als heilen.
“To prevent is better than to cure.”
Prevention is better than cure.
Gott schuf die Zeit — von Eile hat er nichts gesagt.
“God created time — about hurry he said nothing.”
Take your time. God never said anything about rushing.
Einen alten Hund kann man keine neuen Tricks lehren.
“You can't teach an old dog new tricks.”
It's hard to change old habits.
Ein Hund mit zwei Herren verhungert.
“A dog with two masters starves.”
You can't serve two masters.
Das Gras ist immer grüner auf der anderen Seite.
“The grass is always greener on the other side.”
Other people's lives always seem better than yours.
Eine Hand wäscht die andere.
“One hand washes the other.”
You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
Den Kopf nicht hängen lassen.
“Don't let your head hang.”
Don't be discouraged. Keep your chin up.
Wer suchet, der findet.
“He who seeks, finds.”
If you look hard enough, you will find what you seek.
Morgen, morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faulen Leute.
“Tomorrow, tomorrow, just not today, say all the lazy people.”
Stop procrastinating.
Stille Wasser sind tief.
“Still waters run deep.”
Quiet people often have a lot going on beneath the surface.
Liebe macht blind.
“Love makes blind.”
Love is blind.
Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker.
“What does not kill me makes me stronger.”
Hardships build character.
Glück und Glas, wie leicht bricht das.
“Luck and glass, how easily it breaks.”
Good fortune is fragile.
Kleider machen Leute.
“Clothes make people.”
You are judged by how you dress.
Jede Medaille hat zwei Seiten.
“Every medal has two sides.”
There are two sides to every story.
Beim nächsten Mal wird alles besser.
“Next time everything will be better.”
There's always next time.
Das ist eine harte Nuss.
“That is a hard nut.”
That's a tough problem to crack.
Aller Anfang ist schwer.
“Every beginning is hard.”
Getting started is always the hardest part.
Die Zunge ist schärfer als das Schwert.
“The tongue is sharper than the sword.”
Words can hurt more than weapons.
Wer rastet, der rostet.
“He who rests, rusts.”
If you don't keep active, you lose your edge.
Gut Ding will Weile haben.
“A good thing wants to take its time.”
Good things take time.
Das spielt mir in die Hände.
“That plays into my hands.”
That works in my favor.
Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst.
“He who comes first, grinds first.”
First come, first served.
Eine Krähe hackt der anderen kein Auge aus.
“One crow doesn't peck out another crow's eye.”
People protect their own kind.
Lachen ist die beste Medizin.
“Laughing is the best medicine.”
A good laugh heals everything.
Die großen Fische fressen die kleinen.
“The big fish eat the small fish.”
The powerful exploit the weak.
Wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen.
“He who sits in a glass house should not throw stones.”
Don't criticize others for faults you have yourself.
Kein Sprichwort lügt.
“No proverb lies.”
Proverbs contain truth.
Wie man sich bettet, so liegt man.
“As you make your bed, so you lie in it.”
You must live with the consequences of your choices.
Vom Regen in die Traufe kommen.
“To come from the rain into the eaves drip.”
To go from bad to worse.
Sich nicht um ungelegte Eier kümmern.
“Don't worry about eggs that haven't been laid yet.”
Don't cross bridges before you come to them.
Der Frosch soll nicht größer werden als der Ochse.
“The frog should not become bigger than the ox.”
Don't try to be something you're not.
Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul.
“Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Be grateful for gifts and don't find fault with them.
Bedenke das Ende.
“Consider the end.”
Think about the consequences before you act.
Vertrauen erweckt Vertrauen.
“Trust awakens trust.”
Trust begets trust.
Gut verloren, etwas verloren. Mut verloren, alles verloren.
“Goods lost, something lost. Courage lost, everything lost.”
Losing wealth is bad, but losing courage is losing everything.
Der Fuchs lobt die Trauben, die er nicht erreichen kann.
“The fox praises the grapes he cannot reach.”
People pretend not to want what they cannot have.
Ein Wolf im Schafspelz.
“A wolf in a sheep's pelt.”
Someone who appears harmless but is dangerous.
Besser ein großer Frosch im kleinen Teich als ein kleiner Frosch im großen Teich.
“Better a big frog in a small pond than a small frog in a big pond.”
It is better to be important in a small place than irrelevant in a big one.
Der Esel schimpft den andern Langohr.
“The donkey scolds the other long-ear.”
The pot calling the kettle black.
Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Mäuse.
“When the cat is out of the house, the mice dance.”
When the boss is away, the workers play.
Schlafende Hunde soll man nicht wecken.
“Sleeping dogs should not be woken.”
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Man kann ein Pferd zur Tränke führen, aber nicht zum Trinken zwingen.
“You can lead a horse to the watering trough, but not force it to drink.”
You can give someone an opportunity but not force them to take it.
Man soll den Bären nicht verkaufen, bevor man ihn erlegt hat.
“One should not sell the bear before one has killed it.”
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Die Kuh vom Eis bringen.
“To bring the cow off the ice.”
To rescue a difficult situation.
Die Katze lässt das Mausen nicht.
“The cat doesn't stop mousing.”
A leopard can't change its spots.
Mit jemandem Brot und Salz gegessen haben.
“To have eaten bread and salt with someone.”
To have shared a meal and formed a bond of friendship.
Du hast die Suppe eingebrockt, jetzt musst du sie auslöffeln.
“You crumbled the bread into the soup, now you must spoon it out.”
You made this mess, now deal with it.
Was geschehen ist, ist geschehen.
“What has happened has happened.”
There's no use crying over spilled milk.
Das geht mich nichts an.
“That goes me nothing to.”
That's none of my business.
Den Finger in die Wunde legen.
“To lay the finger in the wound.”
To point out exactly what is wrong.
Das ist ein zweischneidiges Schwert.
“That is a double-edged sword.”
That has both advantages and disadvantages.
Ein Sturm im Wasserglas.
“A storm in a water glass.”
A huge fuss over something small.
April macht was er will.
“April does what it wants.”
April weather is completely unpredictable.
Nach dem Regen kommt die Sonne.
“After the rain comes the sun.”
After hardship comes better times.
Wer Wind sät, wird Sturm ernten.
“He who sows wind will harvest storm.”
If you cause trouble, expect serious consequences.
Es regnet auf Gerechte und Ungerechte.
“It rains on the just and the unjust.”
Bad things happen to good people too.
Honigmund, Giftzahn.
“Honey mouth, poison tooth.”
Sweet talk can hide dangerous intentions.
Auf dem Boden der Tatsachen bleiben.
“To stay on the ground of facts.”
Stay realistic. Keep your feet on the ground.
Lauf nicht in fremden Schuhen.
“Don't walk in foreign shoes.”
Don't try to be someone you're not.
Alte Liebe rostet nicht.
“Old love does not rust.”
You never forget your first love.
Wasser hat keine Balken.
“Water has no beams.”
Don't trust what you can't stand on — water won't hold you up.
Irren ist menschlich.
“To err is human.”
Everyone makes mistakes.
Freunde in der Not gehen tausend auf ein Lot.
“Friends in need go a thousand to one lot.”
True friends are rare.
Jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied.
“Everyone is the blacksmith of their own fortune.”
You forge your own destiny.
Was das Herz nicht weiß, macht den Kopf nicht heiß.
“What the heart does not know does not make the head hot.”
What you don't know can't hurt you.
Neid frisst seinen eigenen Herrn.
“Envy devours its own master.”
Envy destroys the one who feels it.
Arbeit adelt.
“Work ennobles.”
There is dignity in labor.
Geduld bringt Rosen.
“Patience brings roses.”
Good things come to those who wait.
Wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne.
“Where there is planing, there are shavings.”
You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Die Augen sind größer als der Magen.
“The eyes are bigger than the stomach.”
You took more than you can handle.
Pech und Schwefel.
“Pitch and sulfur.”
Two inseparable troublemakers.
Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn.
“Out of the eyes, out of the mind.”
Out of sight, out of mind.
Es gibt keine dummen Fragen, nur dumme Antworten.
“There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.”
Never be afraid to ask.
Armut schändet nicht.
“Poverty does not shame.”
There is no shame in being poor.
Ohne Fleiß kein Preis.
“Without diligence, no prize.”
No pain, no gain.
Du gehst mir auf den Keks.
“You're going on my cookie.”
You're getting on my nerves.
Ich habe einen Kater.
“I have a tomcat.”
I'm hungover.
Seinen Senf dazugeben.
“To add one's mustard.”
To give your two cents, usually unasked.
Tote Hose.
“Dead trousers.”
Nothing is going on; it's completely dead here.
Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen.
“To play the insulted liver sausage.”
To sulk or be overly touchy.
Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei.
“That is not the yellow from the egg.”
It's not ideal; not the best option.
Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden.
“To tie a bear onto someone.”
To pull someone's leg; to tell a tall tale.
Um den heißen Brei herumreden.
“To talk around the hot porridge.”
To beat around the bush.
Das ist Jacke wie Hose.
“That is jacket like trousers.”
It makes no difference; six of one, half a dozen of the other.
Ich habe die Nase voll.
“I have the nose full.”
I'm fed up with it.
Das ist nur ein Katzensprung.
“That is only a cat's jump.”
It's just a stone's throw away.
Ich bin mit meinem Latein am Ende.
“I am at the end with my Latin.”
I'm at my wit's end.
Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof.
“Life is no pony farm.”
Life isn't a bed of roses.
Butter bei die Fische!
“Butter by the fish!”
Get to the point! Out with it!
Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen.
“You can take poison on that.”
You can bet your life on it.
Alter Schwede!
“Old Swede!”
Wow! Whoa! (surprise or amazement)
Er hat einen an der Waffel.
“He has one on the waffle.”
He's a bit nuts.
Das ist unter aller Sau.
“That is beneath all sow.”
That's absolutely terrible.
Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen.
“Where fox and hare say good night to each other.”
In the middle of nowhere.
Ins Gras beißen.
“To bite into the grass.”
To bite the dust; to die.
Den Löffel abgeben.
“To hand in the spoon.”
To kick the bucket.
Einen Korb bekommen.
“To get a basket.”
To be turned down, especially romantically.
Die Sau rauslassen.
“To let the sow out.”
To party hard and let loose.
Hummeln im Hintern haben.
“To have bumblebees in the butt.”
To have ants in your pants; can't sit still.
Wie ein Schluck Wasser in der Kurve.
“Like a sip of water in the curve.”
Slouching or sprawled out limply.
Das geht auf keine Kuhhaut.
“That doesn't go on any cowhide.”
That's beyond belief; outrageous.
Ich lach mich kaputt.
“I laugh myself broken.”
I'm dying of laughter.
Null Bock.
“Zero buck.”
Can't be bothered; zero motivation.
Ich glaub, ich steh im Wald.
“I believe I'm standing in the forest.”
I can't believe what I'm seeing or hearing.
Das ist mir schnuppe.
“That is candle-snuff to me.”
I couldn't care less.
Sich einen Ast lachen.
“To laugh oneself a branch.”
To crack up laughing.
Eine Leiche im Keller haben.
“To have a corpse in the cellar.”
To have a skeleton in the closet.
Das ist im Eimer.
“That is in the bucket.”
It's broken or ruined.
Jemandem die Leviten lesen.
“To read someone the Levites.”
To give someone a stern talking-to.
Blau sein.
“To be blue.”
To be drunk.
Blau machen.
“To make blue.”
To skip work or school; to pull a sickie.
Mir fällt ein Stein vom Herzen.
“A stone is falling from my heart.”
What a relief!
Jemanden auf den Arm nehmen.
“To take someone on the arm.”
To pull someone's leg.
Sich die Kante geben.
“To give oneself the edge.”
To get completely hammered.
Ich kenne meine Pappenheimer.
“I know my Pappenheimers.”
I know exactly who I'm dealing with, tricks and all.
Da ist etwas im Busch.
“There is something in the bush.”
Something's up; something is brewing.
Jemandem den Kopf waschen.
“To wash someone's head.”
To tell someone off.
Die Arschkarte ziehen.
“To draw the butt card.”
To get the short end of the stick.
Am Arsch der Welt.
“At the butt of the world.”
In the back of beyond; the middle of nowhere.
Jemandem Feuer unterm Hintern machen.
“To make fire under someone's behind.”
To light a fire under someone; to hurry them up.
Das ist doch kein Beinbruch.
“That is no leg break.”
It's not the end of the world.
Das Kind beim Namen nennen.
“To call the child by its name.”
To call a spade a spade.
Rotz und Wasser heulen.
“To howl snot and water.”
To cry your eyes out.
Jemandem ein X für ein U vormachen.
“To pass off an X for a U to someone.”
To pull the wool over someone's eyes.
Das fünfte Rad am Wagen sein.
“To be the fifth wheel on the wagon.”
To be the third wheel; to feel unwanted.
Unter vier Augen.
“Under four eyes.”
In private, just the two of us.
Ein Tropfen auf den heißen Stein.
“A drop on the hot stone.”
A drop in the ocean; far too little to matter.
Du gehst mir auf den Wecker.
“You're going on my alarm clock.”
You're driving me up the wall.
Es ist eine Affenhitze.
“It is a monkey heat.”
It's sweltering hot.
Es regnet Bindfäden.
“It's raining strings.”
It's pouring down.
Was für ein Sauwetter!
“What a sow weather!”
What awful weather!
Bei dem Wetter jagt man keinen Hund vor die Tür.
“In this weather you don't chase a dog out the door.”
The weather is too miserable for anyone to go out.
Nach mir die Sintflut.
“After me the deluge.”
I don't care what happens once I'm gone.
Das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen.
“To promise the blue from the sky.”
To promise the moon.
Klar wie Kloßbrühe.
“Clear as dumpling broth.”
Crystal clear; obvious.
Jemandem reinen Wein einschenken.
“To pour someone pure wine.”
To tell someone the plain truth.
Kohldampf haben.
“To have cabbage steam.”
To be starving.
Den Braten riechen.
“To smell the roast.”
To smell a rat; to sense a trick.
Jemandem Honig ums Maul schmieren.
“To smear honey around someone's snout.”
To butter someone up.
Das ist doch Käse!
“That is cheese!”
That's nonsense!
Quatsch mit Soße!
“Nonsense with sauce!”
Utter rubbish!
Jemandem die Wurst vom Brot nehmen.
“To take the sausage off someone's bread.”
To take away someone's livelihood or advantage.
Mit der Wurst nach der Speckseite werfen.
“To throw the sausage at the side of bacon.”
To give a little in hope of getting a lot.
Jemandem Zucker in den Hintern blasen.
“To blow sugar into someone's behind.”
To pamper or spoil someone rotten.
Ins Fettnäpfchen treten.
“To step into the little grease pot.”
To put your foot in it; to make a social blunder.
Ich freu mich wie ein Schnitzel.
“I'm happy like a schnitzel.”
I'm absolutely thrilled.
Die Radieschen von unten ansehen.
“To look at the radishes from below.”
To be pushing up daisies; to be dead.
Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt!
“The dog in the pan goes crazy!”
That's unbelievable!
Ich glaub, mich knutscht ein Elch!
“I think an elk is smooching me!”
I can't believe it!
Eulen nach Athen tragen.
“To carry owls to Athens.”
To carry coals to Newcastle; to do something pointless.
Da lachen ja die Hühner!
“Even the chickens are laughing!”
That's ridiculous!
Mein Name ist Hase, ich weiß von nichts.
“My name is hare, I know of nothing.”
Don't ask me, I know nothing about it.
Die Flöhe husten hören.
“To hear the fleas coughing.”
To read too much into things; to imagine trouble.
Da beißt die Maus keinen Faden ab.
“The mouse doesn't bite off a thread there.”
There's no getting around it.
Mit den Hühnern ins Bett gehen.
“To go to bed with the chickens.”
To go to bed very early.
Wie der Ochs vorm Berg stehen.
“To stand like the ox in front of the mountain.”
To be completely stumped.
Den Vogel abschießen.
“To shoot down the bird.”
To take the cake (usually in a bad way).
Das interessiert kein Schwein.
“That interests no pig.”
Nobody cares.
Das ist für die Katz.
“That is for the cat.”
It's all for nothing.
Sich zum Affen machen.
“To make oneself into the monkey.”
To make a fool of yourself.
Das Ei will klüger sein als die Henne.
“The egg wants to be smarter than the hen.”
The young think they know better than their elders.
Etwas auf die lange Bank schieben.
“To push something onto the long bench.”
To put something off; to procrastinate.
Einen Zahn zulegen.
“To add a tooth.”
To speed up.
Über den Tellerrand schauen.
“To look over the rim of the plate.”
To think outside the box.
Das hat Hand und Fuß.
“That has hand and foot.”
It's well thought out and makes sense.
Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben.
“To have a board in front of the head.”
To be slow on the uptake.
Auf dem Schlauch stehen.
“To stand on the hose.”
To not get it; to have a mental block.
Zwischen Tür und Angel.
“Between door and hinge.”
In passing; in a rush.
Mit dem Kopf durch die Wand wollen.
“To want to go through the wall with the head.”
To be bullheaded; to force things.
Das ist kalter Kaffee.
“That is cold coffee.”
That's old news.
Das ist das Sahnehäubchen.
“That is the little cream cap.”
The icing on the cake.
Da ist Hopfen und Malz verloren.
“There hops and malt are lost.”
It's a hopeless case; no effort will help.
Mit dem ist nicht gut Kirschen essen.
“With him it is not good eating cherries.”
He's difficult to deal with; best not to cross him.
Was für eine Gurkentruppe!
“What a cucumber troop!”
What a bunch of amateurs!
Leben wie die Made im Speck.
“To live like the maggot in the bacon.”
To live in the lap of luxury.
Die Katze im Sack kaufen.
“To buy the cat in the sack.”
To buy something sight unseen.
Mit dir habe ich noch ein Hühnchen zu rupfen.
“With you I still have a little chicken to pluck.”
I have a bone to pick with you.
Wie ein begossener Pudel dastehen.
“To stand there like a watered poodle.”
To look sheepish and crestfallen.
Klappe zu, Affe tot.
“Flap shut, monkey dead.”
That's that. End of story.
Eine eierlegende Wollmilchsau.
“An egg-laying wool-milk-sow.”
Something (or someone) that is supposed to do absolutely everything.
Danach kräht kein Hahn.
“After it crows no rooster.”
Nobody cares about it.
Den inneren Schweinehund überwinden.
“To overcome the inner pig-dog.”
To beat your own laziness and get going.
Der Groschen ist gefallen.
“The penny has fallen.”
The penny dropped; finally got it.
Auf dem letzten Loch pfeifen.
“To whistle on the last hole.”
To be on your last legs.
Das ist das A und O.
“That is the A and O.”
It's the be-all and end-all; the most important thing.
Das ist kein Zuckerschlecken.
“That is no sugar-licking.”
It's no picnic.
Das Geld aus dem Fenster werfen.
“To throw the money out of the window.”
To waste money.
In China ist ein Sack Reis umgefallen.
“In China a sack of rice has fallen over.”
Who cares? Completely irrelevant news.
Kein Blatt vor den Mund nehmen.
“To take no leaf in front of the mouth.”
To speak bluntly; not mince words.
Abwarten und Tee trinken.
“Wait and drink tea.”
Be patient and see what happens.
Dumm wie Bohnenstroh.
“Dumb as bean straw.”
Dumb as a box of rocks.
Geh dahin, wo der Pfeffer wächst!
“Go there, where the pepper grows!”
Get lost! Go far, far away.
Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben.
“To have butterflies in the belly.”
To be head over heels in love.
Hier ist dicke Luft.
“Here is thick air.”
There's tension in the room.