1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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)

10. 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)

11. 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)

12. 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)

13. 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)