The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER!: 23. übers Ohr hauen

 The 34 Very Best German Sayings…EVER!

By: AuthorMarcel Iseli

23. übers Ohr hauen

This German proverb comes from the art of fencing. In fencing, there’s a rule that says you must not hit your opponent above the ears. 

If you do this anyway, you have bamboozled (cheated) your opponent, which in German is also called ‘übers Ohr hauen.’   

Example:

Du bist aber auch wirklich naiv! Meinst du wirklich, dass dir Bernd einfach so 1000 Franken schenkt? Der hat dich doch übers Ohr gehauen!  

Translation: You are really naive! Do you really think Bernd will give you 1000 dollars just like that? He’s definitely up to something!