Deutsche Idiome Ich bin gesund wie ein Fisch im Wasser. I’m fit as a fiddle. (Meaning – I’m in great health) Literal German: I’m as healthy as a fish in water.
Das habe ich mit Ach und Krach getan. I have done it with great difficulty. / by the skin of one’s teeth. (Meaning – it was very hard to accomplish / barely possible) Literal German: I did it with Ach und Krach.
Alle guten Dinge sind drei. All good things come in threes. (Meaning – All things that are good normally occur or come in threes) Literal German: All good things are three.
Aus den Augen, Aus dem Sinn. Out of sight, out of mind (Meaning – You tend to forget about what you don’t see on a regular basis) Literal German: Out of the eyes, out of the mind.
Das ist ein Bild für Götter. What a sight! That is a picture worth remembering. (Meaning – What a view! What a sight!) Literal German: That is a picture for the gods. (der Gott – die Götter)
Er/Sie ist bekannt wie ein bunter Hund. He is known all over. (Meaning – Everybody has heard about him / her) Literal German: He/She is known like a colorful dog. (bunt – colorful)
Er/Sie wird das auf Biegen oder Brechen schaffen. He will succeed come what may. / whatever it takes (Meaning –Nothing will stop him/her) Literal German: He/She will succeed at that bending or breaking.
Er/Sie versteht keinen Spass. He / She cannot take a joke. (Meaning – He / she does not have a sense of humor) Literal German: He/She understands no fun.
Er/Sie nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund. He / She does not mince words (Meaning –He / She gets right to the point / speaks plainly) Literal German: He/She takes no paper in front of the mouth. (nehmen – to take / das Blatt – leaf (of a tree or paper)
Ich habe mich totgelacht. I laughed myself to death. I laughed so hard, I split my sides. (Meaning – unrestrained laughter) Literal German: I have laughed myself to death. (lachen – to laugh / tot – dead)
Neither a borrower or a lender be. Borgen macht Sorgen. Neither a borrower or a lender be. (Meaning – borrowing causes trouble or worries) Literal German: Borrowing creates worries. (borgen – to borrow / die Sorgen – worries)
Male nicht den Teufel an die Wand. Don’t speak of the devil (bad things) or they will happen. (Meaning – don’t discuss bad things as that will lead to them coming to pass) Literal German: Don’t paint the devil on the wall. (der Teufel – devil / die Wand – wall)
Du hast die Büchse der Pandora aufgemacht. You have opened up Pandora’s box. (Meaning – you have let loose all kinds of things. Literal German: You have opened Pandora’s tin (can) (die Büchse – Tin / can)