111 German Idioms with Translations: Colloquial Expressions for Beginners
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German idioms often sound strange when translated literally, but they are precisely what make speech come alive. Here is a collection of 111 expressions that are useful to pick up in conversation, movies, podcasts, and correspondence: next to each idiom is the German form and a clear English explanation.
According to proverb expert Wolfgang Mieder, as cited by Deutsche Welle, major German collections contain hundreds of thousands of proverbs and idioms. You don’t need to learn them all: for everyday communication, it’s more important to recognize the most common phrases and understand when they are appropriate.
How to Use This Collection
- First, look at the German phrase as a whole, rather than translating each word separately.
- Memorize the expression along with the situation: a joke, dissatisfaction, surprise, fatigue, agreement, or refusal.
- If an idiom is a bit crude or colloquial, use it with caution: some expressions are best reserved for informal conversations.
- For your active vocabulary, choose 10–15 phrases that really fit your conversations.
List of German Idioms with Translations
1. I only understand the train station
In German: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Meaning: I don’t understand a thing. It’s all Greek to me.
2. To feel like a fish out of water
In German: Sich wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen fühlen
Meaning: To be out of one’s element
3. That’s where the rub is
In German: Da liegt der Hund begraben
Meaning: That’s the crux of the matter
4. Keep your thumbs up!
In German: Die Daumen drücken!
Meaning: Keep your fists clenched!
5. Where the fox and the hare wish each other good night
In German: Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen
Meaning: In the middle of nowhere
6. I’m completely drained
In German: Ich bin fix und fertig
Meaning: I’m exhausted / I’m worn out
7. You’re taking advantage of me!
In German: Du nimmst mich auf den Arm!
Meaning: You’re pulling my leg!
8. It’s a cat’s leap
In German: Das ist ein Katzensprung
Meaning: It’s right around the corner
9. To sleep like a groundhog
In German: Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
Meaning: To sleep like a log
10. To beat around the bush
In German: Um den heißen Brei herumreden
Meaning: To beat around the bush
11. You can bet your life on it
In German: Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen
Meaning: You can be absolutely sure of this
12. To make a fool of oneself
In German: Sich zum Affen machen
Meaning: To make a fool of oneself
13. Kill two birds with one stone
In German: Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Meaning: To kill two birds with one stone
14. Asking for an extra sausage
In German: Eine Extrawurst haben
Meaning: To ask for special treatment
15. That’s where the bear dances
In German: Da steppt der Bär
Meaning: There’s a great party there
16. The air is on fire!
In German: Da brennt die Luft!
Meaning: A tense atmosphere / tension
17. To have tomatoes in one’s eyes
In German: Tomaten auf den Augen haben
Meaning: To fail to see the obvious
18. Add your own twist
In German: Seinen Senf dazugeben
Meaning: To express one’s opinion / to weigh in
19. To know something like the back of one’s hand
In German: Wie seine Westentasche kennen
Meaning: To know like the back of one’s hand
20. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
In German: Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben
Meaning: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
21. As clear as broth with dumplings
In German: Klar wie Kloßbrühe
Meaning: Absolutely clear
22. To leave the church in the village
In German: Die Kirche im Dorf lassen
Meaning: Don’t go overboard
23. To have a pig
In German: Schwein haben
Meaning: To take
24. Lies have short legs
In German: Lügen haben kurze Beine
Meaning: A lie doesn’t take you far
25. I think I’m getting the hang of it
In German: Ich glaube, ich spinne
Meaning: I think I’m going crazy
26. To have a cat
In German: Einen Kater haben
Meaning: To have a hangover
27. You could steal horses with him
In German: Mit jemandem Pferde stehlen
Meaning: A reliable person you can go on an adventure with
28. To have a bird
In German: Einen Vogel haben
Meaning: To be a little out of it
29. To look too deeply into a glass
In German: Zu tief ins Glas schauen
Meaning: To drink too much
30. Even small livestock produce manure
In German: Kleinvieh macht auch Mist
Meaning: Small victories count too
31. Lower than a pig
In German: Unter aller Sau
Meaning: Catastrophically bad
32. Below any cannon
In German: Unter aller Kanone
Meaning: Really lousy
33. To play the part of an offended liver sausage
In German: Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen
Meaning: It’s pointless to sulk
34. To give someone a basket
In German: Einen Korb geben
Meaning: To turn down / to refuse
35. Everything’s in the bag
In German: Alles in Butter
Meaning: Everything is fine
36. To tie a bear to someone
In German: Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden
Meaning: To tell a white lie
37. To hit someone on the ear
In German: Jemanden übers Ohr hauen
Meaning: To deceive or trick someone
38. Why is a banana curved?
In German: Warum ist die Banane krumm?
Meaning: I don’t know either
39. The fish stinks from the head down
In German: Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her
Meaning: Problems start at the top
40. I’m not a cow you can milk
In German: Ich bin keine Kuh, die man melken kann!
Meaning: Don’t take advantage of me
41. To fail spectacularly
In German: Mit Pauken und Trompeten durchfallen
Meaning: To fail spectacularly and dramatically
42. It’s a dispute over the Kaiser’s beard
In German: Das ist ein Streit um des Kaisers Bart
Meaning: To get bogged down in details
43. To put on a monkey show
In German: Ein Affentheater aufführen
Meaning: To put on a show
44. To be under the same blanket
In German: Unter einer Decke stecken
Meaning: To do something with someone in secret
45. Columbus’s Egg
In German: Das Ei des Kolumbus
Meaning: A simple solution to a complex problem
46. To look for a hair in the soup
In German: Haar in der Suppe suchen/finden
Meaning: To see only the bad
47. It seems my pig is whistling
In German: Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift
Meaning: That’s absurd
48. Then I’ll eat a broom
In German: Da fresse ich glatt einen Besen
Meaning: I can’t believe it
49. And there you have it
In German: Da haben wir den Salat
Meaning: Now we have a problem
50. We’re up to no good
In German: Wir sitzen schön in der Tinte!
Meaning: We’re in a bad situation
51. It’s going as fast as Schmitz’s cat
In German: Das geht ab wie Schmitz’ Katze
Meaning: That’s really cool / really fun
52. To me, that’s just a piece of cake
In German: Das ist mir Wurst
Meaning: I don’t care
53. The shit’s boiling
In German: Die Kacke ist am dampfen
Meaning: We’re in trouble
54. A sponge on top
In German: Schwamm drüber
Meaning: Let’s forget about it
55. Now for the icing on the cake
In German: Jetzt Butter bei die Fische
Meaning: Let’s get down to business / tell the truth / get started
56. A Person, Mayer
In German: Mensch, Meier
Meaning: Wow!
57. Don’t drive me up a palm tree
In German: Bring mich nicht auf die Palme
Meaning: Don’t push me / Don’t make me angry
58. To laugh into one’s fist
In German: Sich ins Fäustchen lachen
Meaning: To giggle into one’s fist / to secretly rejoice
59. This jacket is just like a pair of pants
In German: Das ist Jacke wie Hose
Meaning: It makes no difference
60. Put all your eggs in one basket
In German: Alles auf eine Karte setzen
Meaning: To put all your eggs in one basket
61. Bach and the Fall
In German: Knall und Fall
Meaning: Suddenly
62. To rescue a cow from the ice
In German: Die Kuh vom Eis holen
Meaning: To avert danger / to resolve a difficult situation
63. That’s two pairs of boots
In German: Das sind zwei Paar Stiefel
Meaning: These are two completely different things
64. Turn the spit
In German: Den Spieß umdrehen
Meaning: To switch roles / to give as good as you get
65. To see something through rose-colored glasses
In German: Etwas durch die rosarote Brille sehen
Meaning: To be too naive / too optimistic
66. To drop one’s pants
In German: Die Hosen runterlassen
Meaning: To tell the whole truth
67. It’s not an egg yolk
In German: Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei
Meaning: This isn’t the best option
68. Here, it’s a dead end
In German: Hier ist Tote Hose
Meaning: It’s boring here / Nothing is happening
69. To the point
In German: Bis in die Puppen
Meaning: Until late at night
70. To go around the corner
In German: Um die Ecke gehen
Meaning: To go to the bathroom
71. To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut
In German: Mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen
Meaning: A sledgehammer to crack a nut
72. I’m getting out of here
In German: Ich mache mich vom Acker
Meaning: I’m leaving
73. To make a mountain out of a molehill
In German: Die Fliege machen
Meaning: To run away / to leave
74. To get a black eye
In German: Die Nase/Die Schnauze voll haben
Meaning: To be fed up
75. Like a rock in the surf
In German: Wie ein Fels in der Brandung
Meaning: As reliable as a rock
76. Nonsense with a twist
In German: Quatsch mit Soße
Meaning: Complete nonsense
77. That’s not my cup of tea
In German: Das ist nicht mein Bier
Meaning: That’s none of my business
78. Until the doctor arrives
In German: Bis der Arzt kommt
Meaning: To the point of exhaustion / excessively
79. Not having all one’s marbles
In German: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Meaning: To be in good spirits
80. To convey a message through a flower
In German: Etwas durch die Blume sagen
Meaning: To say something gently
81. Not to have a goat
In German: Keinen Bock haben
Meaning: Not to be in the mood
82. Sports are murder
In German: Sport ist Mord
Meaning: Sports can be exhausting
83. That’s like milking mice
In German: Das ist zum Mäusemelken
Meaning: This can drive you to despair
84. That’s a real hammer!
In German: Das ist der Hammer!
Meaning: That’s amazing!
85. For an apple and an egg
In German: Für einen Apfel und ein Ei
Meaning: For next to nothing
86. To pull something out of someone’s nose
In German: Jemandem etwas aus der Nase ziehen
Meaning: To pry words out of someone
87. To let the pig out
In German: Die Sau rauslassen
Meaning: To let loose
88. To stare blankly from the laundry
In German: Dumm aus der Wäsche gucken
Meaning: To look surprised
89. To dance on someone’s nose
In German: Jemanden auf der Nase herumtanzen
Meaning: To walk all over someone / to disrespect someone
90. Stay where the pepper grows!
In German: Bleib wo der Pfeffer wächst!
Meaning: Stay away!
91. Oh, you green nine!
In German: Ach du grüne Neune!
Meaning: Oh my God!
92. I’m counting on you
In German: Ich setz auf dich
Meaning: I’m counting on you
93. As tall as three cheeses
In German: Dreikäsehoch
Meaning: A small, smart, and curious child
94. If only it were a bicycle chain
In German: Hätte hätte Fahrradkette
Meaning: Everyone’s wise in hindsight
95. Not being able to offer someone a drink
In German: Jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können
Meaning: Not even good enough for a shoe insole
96. Keep the ball low
In German: Den Ball flach halten
Meaning: Don’t exaggerate
97. To play the dying swan
In German: Den sterbenden Schwan markieren
Meaning: To exaggerate pain or injury
98. The early bird catches the worm
In German: Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Meaning: The early bird catches the worm
99. That sounds Spanish to me
In German: Das kommt mir Spanisch vor
Meaning: Something’s not right here
100. To make a Pole
In German: Einen Polnischen machen
Meaning: To leave in the English style
101. Things are really heating up here!
In German: Hier geht die Post ab!
Meaning: Things are really heating up here!
102. It’s five to twelve
In German: Es ist fünf vor zwölf
Meaning: Time is running out
103. To have hair on one’s teeth
In German: Haare auf den Zähnen haben
Meaning: To be sharp and assertive
104. That’s going to be a disaster!
In German: Das geht in die Hose!
Meaning: Everything will fall apart!
105. To promise the moon
In German: Das blaue vom Himmel versprechen
Meaning: To promise the impossible
106. To dance out of step
In German: Aus der Reihe tanzen
Meaning: To not follow the rules or an agreement
107. To be the little tongue on the scales
In German: Das Zünglein an der Waage sein
Meaning: To maintain a balance of power / to be the deciding factor
108. To butter someone up
In German: Jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren
Meaning: To brown-nose
109. Keep the ball!
In German: Bleib am Ball!
Meaning: Don’t give up / Keep going
110. To throw a wrench in someone’s plans
In German: Einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen
Meaning: To ruin someone’s plans
111. Everything has an end, except for sausage—which has two
In German: Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei
Meaning: Sooner or later, everything comes to an end
What to Learn First
To get started, it’s more useful to focus not on all 111 expressions, but on a small set that frequently appears in everyday speech: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof, Da liegt der Hund begraben, Die Daumen drücken, Das ist mir Wurst, Alles in Butter, Jetzt Butter bei die Fische, and Bleib am Ball. These idioms are easy to recognize, make sense in context, and help you get used to spoken German more quickly.
FAQ
Should you use these idioms yourself?
Not necessarily. At the beginner level, it’s more important to understand what the other person is saying. You should only use idioms when you’re confident in the meaning and tone of the expression.
Do all these expressions sound modern?
No. Some phrases are more common in jokes, regional dialects, or among the older generation. If in doubt, first check the expression in context: in TV shows, podcasts, articles, or dictionaries of German Redewendungen.
How does an idiom differ from a proverb?
An idiom is usually a fixed expression with a figurative meaning, while a proverb more often takes the form of a complete thought or a rule of life. In spoken language, the distinction isn’t always important: the main thing is to understand that the phrase cannot be translated literally.
