German idioms deutschen idiomen Raucht Ihnen der Kopf (does your head smoke) when studying German?

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.

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.

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

Jmdm ein Dorn im Auge sein Literally: to be a thorn in someone’s eye Figuratively: to be a thorn in someone’s side

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

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

Vier Augen sehen mehr als zwei Literally: Four eyes see better than two Figuratively: Two heads are better than one

weder Hand noch Fuß haben To have neither hand nor foot To make no sense at all

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."

Das liegt auf der Hand That lies on the hand That is obvious! (Duh)

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

etwas auf dem Herzen haben To have something on the heart To have something on the mind; to be thinking about something

jemandem fällt 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."

Mir raucht der Kopf The head is smoking to me My head is spinning

Wer rastet, der rostet Who rests, rusts Use it or lose it Related Parody: Wer rast, rostet nicht (who speeds, does not rust)

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 rear Fig.:   I was kicking myself/expression of remorse