German idioms deutschen idiome

1. German idiomsdeutschenidiome Raucht Ihnen der Kopf (does your head smoke) when studying German?

2. Idioms • Idioms are phrases or expressions that are unique to a particular language. Defined by the American Heritage Dictionary as “A speech form or an expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from the individual meanings of its elements,” idioms are key to understanding the soul of a language. Idioms point to a shared experience and culture between speakers of the same language. Idioms and other similar colloquial phrases spice up a language by giving it much of its vibrancy and texture. The German language is rich in idioms. • At first, understanding German idioms can be confusing for non-native speakers, especially students. Looking up the individual words that make up an idiomatic expression in a German to English dictionary will confound the student as the words on their own won't make any sense, the entire phrase has to be taken into account when dealing with idioms. Because of this, students of the German language must study idioms in the same way as they do vocabulary. Baseline knowledge is required when dealing with idioms in any language, this knowledge cannot be had intuitively and can only come from study and experience speaking the language.

3. Hals und Beinbruch! • Literally: neck and leg break • Figuratively: Break a leg! (an ironic expression wishing good luck) • Origins: Old superstition held that wicked spirits were irresistibly drawn by well-wishing, as it presented them w/ opportunity to cause upset. To trick the spirits, people wished one another the opposite of what was really desired.

4. Hals über Kopf • Literally: neck over head • Figuratively: in a mad rush

5. Jmdmein Dorn imAugesein • Literally: to be a thorn in someone’s eye • Figuratively: to be a thorn in someone’s side; to be annoying

6. nicht in ihrer Haut stecken wollen Literally: not to want to be stuck in her skin Figuratively: wouldn’t want to be stuck in her shoes/her situation

7. sich keine grauen Haare über etwas wachsen lassen • Literally: not let any gray hairs grow over something • Figuratively: not to worry

8. Vier Augen sehen mehr als zwei • Literally: Four eyes see better than two • Figuratively: We will get better results if we work together. Two heads are better than one.

9. weder Hand nochFußhaben • To have neither hand nor foot • To make no sense at all

10. wo der Kaiser zu Fuß hingeht • Where the emperor goes on foot • The smallest room in the place, normally the loo • EUPHEMISMS for die Toilette/das Klo/das WC or "I gotta go" include: "das stille Örtchen," "wo der König allein hingeht," "ich muss mal," "ich muss wohin."

11. Das liegt auf der Hand • That lies on the hand • That is obvious! (Duh) It’s right under your nose.

12. etwas mit den Füßen treten • To step on something with the feet • To treat something with contempt • Related: jemanden mit den Füßen treten • To step on someone with the feet • To walk all over someone

13. etwas auf demHerzenhaben • To have something on the heart • To have something on the mind; to be thinking about something

14. jemandemfällt das Herz in die Hose • Someone’s heart sinks to the pants • To be scared to death • Als es krachte, fiel mir das Herz in die Hose.

15. Mir raucht der Kopf • The head is smoking to me • I am sooo confused. My head is spinning

16. Werrastet, derrostet Who rests, rusts. • Warning to use it or lose it • Related Parody: Werrast, rostetnicht (who speeds, does not rust)

17. Wer Feuer frißt, scheißt Funken. • Literally: Who eats fire, sh**s sparks • Figuratively: This will come back to haunt you/bite you in the butt • Related Idiom: sich in den Arsch beißen • Ich habe mich in den Arsch/Hintern gebissen. Literally: to bite oneself in the rearFig.:   I was kicking myself/expression of remorse