I consider myself a native German speaker, although my true mother’s tongue is the Upper Hessian dialect, which I still speak fluently. l learned Standard German in school. Further languages: French, Latin. I live in Berlin now. I talk to a lot of people for job reasons. My favorite subjects here on Quora are German history ( the 19th and 20th century), language and lifestyle.
25 GREAT GERMAN SAYINGS YOU NEVER HEARD OF
OK, here it comes: My list of sayings. Plus translation. If anybody knows an equivalent English saying, please let me know.
- Sich zum Affen machen = making a monkey ( a fool) out of yourself.
2. Dem geht der Arsch auf Grundeis = He is anxious (direct translation difficult)
3. Eulen nach Athen tragen, oder Schnecken nach Wien = Carrying Owls to Athens / snails to Vienna, means irrational efforts : The owl is the symbol of Athens, it’s just everywhere. So there are enough owls in Athens, and the Viennese are already known for slow speed, they don‘t need snails (Symbols for slowliness).
4. Dumm wie Brot = very silly, as smart as bread.
5. Blind wie Paul, und Paul war’n Maulwurf = when someone oversees the obvious: Blind like Paul ’n Paul was a Mole.
6. Lieber Arm dran, als Arm ab = better loose your money than your arm (in German “arm” means „arm“ as well as „poor“).
7. Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund = Morning hour bears Gold in its mouth. similar to: The early bird catches the worm.
8. Honig um den Bart schmieren = smear honey around someone’s beard. To make compliments. Meant in a derogatory way.
9. Zeigen, wo Barthel den Most holt = originates in a Yiddish saying: show, how you get the money (most) with a crowbar (Barthel). means : I will teach you!
10. Schaffe, schaffe Häusle baue… = work, work, build a house. Means: I am / You are always busy.
11. Klappe zu Affe tot = Flap is shut, monkey’s dead. We screwed it up. We cannot make it undone. Let’s carry on.
12. Keine Arme, keine Kekse = You have no arms to pick a cookie, you ‘ll have none. means: Your own fault! Don’t complain and ask for help (OK; Not a nice one but very. common).
13. Die Haare vom Kopf fressen = Others are eating the hair from your head. Means someone (your kid) costs you a lot of money.
14. Morgen morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faulen Leute = tomorrow, not today, only lazy people say.
15. Früher hatte er nen forschen P*****, heute hat er nen Porschefimmel. Means he used to be a women chaser, now he is a sportscar racer.
16. Die Revolution fand im Saale statt = The revolution will be held indoors (in case of bad weather). A popular comment on revolutions in Germany, which are said to have been lead not with much effort.
17. Das sind für mich böhmische Dörfer = This sounds like villages in Bohemia. Means : I have no idea what you are talking about. I don’t know these words.
18. Sport ist Mord = Sports equal Murder. Doing sport will kill you. A saying loved very much by couch-potatoes.
19. Wer aufräumt, ist nur zu faul zum suchen = Keeping your room tidy means you‘re too lazy to search for everything.
20. Zeigen, wo der Frosch die Locken hat. Now I show you where the frogs have their curls. Absolute nonsense. Means: I’ll teach you!
21. Schnee von gestern = Snow from yesterday. Nobody is still interested in this.
22. Ha - ha. Selten so gelacht. 3 Sack voll und den Rest in Tüten = (Ironically) Look how much we laughed: Three sacks full, the rest in plastic bags. Means: This wasn’t funny, this was boring.
23. Witz komm raus, du bist umzingelt = .Imagine a bank robbery, they have taken hostages but the Police are there, and now the Captain uses the bullhorn: You better come out, you are surrounded by police. Here Meaning: What you told, isn’t funny. If there is a point in your joke, he hides in between the words and doesn't want to come out.
24. Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift = It seems my pig whistle blows. Meaning this is absolutely weird. Stop it!
25. Sauer macht lustig = Sour (drinks, food) makes you laugh. A nice comment when somebody offers you e.g. a sour cider: “Well, yes, it is a little sour, but sauer macht lustig".
