111 German Idioms In English With Illustrations [+ Translation] (2024)

Once you start feeling comfortable participating in German conversations, you will be surprised by how little you might understand. Germans love, sorry, I mean, absolutely love to use German idioms in their conversations. Funnily enough, some Germans will use the literal translation of the German idioms in English conversations.

My wife, who is German, has said in the middle of our English conversations things like: ‘Do you have tomatoes on your eyes, Jen?’ 🍅. Uh, what?

Once, in a German conversation we were having with a friend of ours, my wife said: ‘And then I let down my pants’👖. Uh, again…what?!

According to this article of the Deutsche Welle (in German), there are 250.000 proverbs in German! Oh boy, that is a lot! Not all of them are used in the day to day life, though. So don’t worry.

In this article, you’ll find a list of 111 German idioms in English so the next time you are in a conversation, you don’t feel as lost as I have. Feel free to read this list at a party with other expats or to some Germans. It will, for sure, bring you some laughs.

🖌️ Table of Contents

111 German Idioms in English
- 1. I only understand train station
- 2. To feel like a fish on the dry
- 3. That’s where the dog is buried
- 4. Press the thumbs!
- 5. Where fox and hare say goodnight to one another
- 6. I’m done and ready
- 7. You’re taking me on the arm!
- 8. That’s a cat’s jump
- 9. Sleep like a groundhog
- 10. To talk around the hot porridge
- 11. You can take poison on that
- 12. Make an ape of yourself
- 13. Kill two flies with one swat
- 14. To ask for an extra sausage
- 15. The bear dances there
- 16. The air burns!
- 17. To have tomatoes on one’s eyes
- 18. To add your mustard to it
- 19. To know something like one’s vest pocket
- 20. Don’t praise the day before the evening
- 21. Clear as dumpling broth
- 22. To leave the church in the village
- 23. To have a pig
- 24. Lies have short legs
- 25. I believe I spider
- 26. To have a cat
- 27. You can steal horses with him
- 28. To have a bird
- 29. To look too deep into the glass
- 30. Small cattle also make poop
- 31. Under all pig
- 32. Under all cannon
- 33. To play the offended liver sausage
- 34. To give someone a basket
- 35. All in butter
- 36. To tie a bear to someone
- 37. To hit someone over the ear
- 38. Why is the banana curved?
- 39. The fish stinks from the head
- 40. I am not a cow to be milked
- 41. To go down with drums and trumpets
- 42. That is an argument over the emperor’s beard
- 43. To put a monkey theater on stage
- 44. To stick under one blanket
- 45. The egg of Columbus
- 46. Search/ find for a hair in the soup
- 47. I think my pig whistles
- 48. I even eat a broom
- 49. There we have the salad
- 50. We sit beautifully in the ink
- 51. It goes off like the cat of Schmitz’
- 52. That is sausage for me
- 53. The poop is steaming
- 54. Sponge over
- 55. Now butter at the fish
- 56. Human, Meier
- 57. Don’t bring me on the palm tree
- 58. To laugh into one’s small fist
- 59. That is jacket as pants
- 60. To put everything on one card
- 61. Bang and fall
- 62. Get the cow off the ice
- 63. Those are two pairs of boots
- 65. To turn the skewer
- 66. To see something through pink glasses
- 67. To let down one’s pants
- 68. That’s not the yellow of the egg
- 69. Here is dead pants
- 70. Until the dolls
- 71. To go around the corner
- 71. To shoot cannons at sparrows
- 72. I make me from the field
- 73. To make the fly
- 74. To have the nose/snout full
- 75. Like a rock in the surf
- 76. Nonsense with sauce
- 77. That is not my beer
- 78. Until the doctor comes
- 79. To not have all cups in the cupboard
- 80. To say something through the flower
- 81. To not have a buck
- 82. Sport is murder
- 83. That is to milk the mice
- 84. That is the hammer!
- 85. For an apple and an egg
- 86. To pull something out of someone’s nose
- 87. To let the pig out
- 88. To look dumb from the laundry
- 89. To dance on someone’s nose
- 90. Stay where the pepper is grown!
- 91. Oh you green nines!
- 92. I sit on you
- 93. Three cheeses high
- 94. Could’ve could’ve bike chain
- 95. To not be able to pass someone the water
- 96. To keep the ball leveled
- 97. To act like a dying swan
- 98. The morning hour has gold in the mouth
- 99. That seems Spanish to me
- 100. To make a Polish
- 101. Here goes the post mail off!
- 102. It’s five to twelve
- 103. To have hair on one’s teeth
- 104. That goes in the pants!
- 105. To promise the blue of the sky
- 106. To dance out of line
- 107. To be the little tongue on the scale
- 108. To smear honey around someone’s mouth
- 109. Stay with the ball!
- 110. To draw a line through someone’s calculation
- 111. Everything has an ending, only the sausage has two

111 German Idioms in English

1. I only understand train station

German: Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Meaning: I don’t understand anything. It’s all Greek to me.

2. To feel like a fish on the dry

German: Sich wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen fühlen
Meaning: Fish out of water

3. That’s where the dog is buried

German: Da liegt der Hund begraben
Meaning: That’s the heart of the matter

4. Press the thumbs!

German: Die Daumen drücken!
Meaning: Keep your fingers crossed!

5. Where fox and hare say goodnight to one another

German: Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen
Meaning: In the middle of nowhere

6. I’m done and ready

German: Ich bin fix und fertig
Meaning: I’m wiped out or I’m exhausted

7. You’re taking me on the arm!

German: Du nimmst mich auf den Arm!
Meaning: You’re pulling my leg!

8. That’s a cat’s jump

German: Das ist ein Katzensprung
Meaning: It’s a stone’s throw away

9. Sleep like a groundhog

German: Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier
Meaning: Sleep like a log

10. To talk around the hot porridge

German: Um den heißen Brei herumreden
Meaning: To beat around the bush

11. You can take poison on that

German: Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen
Meaning: You can bet your life on that

12. Make an ape of yourself

German: Sich zum Affen machen
Meaning: Make a fool of yourself

13. Kill two flies with one swat

German: Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen
Meaning: Kill two birds with one stone

14. To ask for an extra sausage

German: Eine Extrawurst haben
Meaning: To ask for special treatment

15. The bear dances there

German: Da steppt der Bär
Meaning: It is a good party

16. The air burns!

German: Da brennt die Luft!
Meaning: Heated atmosphere – tension

17. To have tomatoes on one’s eyes

German: Tomaten auf den Augen haben
Meaning: Not to see obvious things/to be blind

18. To add your mustard to it

German: Seinen Senf dazugeben
Meaning: Give your opinion / give your two cents

19. To know something like one’s vest pocket

German: Wie seine Westentasche kennen
Meaning: To know smth. like the back of one’s hand

20. Don’t praise the day before the evening

German: Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben
Meaning: Don’t count your chicks before they hatch

21. Clear as dumpling broth

German: Klar wie Kloßbrühe
Meaning: Crystal clear

22. To leave the church in the village

German: Die Kirche im Dorf lassen
Meaning: To not get carried away

23. To have a pig

German: Schwein haben
Meaning: To get lucky

24. Lies have short legs

German: Lügen haben kurze Beine
Meaning: Lies don’t get you far

25. I believe I spider

German: Ich glaube ich spinne
Meaning: I think I’m going crazy

26. To have a cat

German: Einen Kater haben
Meaning: To have a hangover

27. You can steal horses with him

German: Mit jemandem Pferde stehlen
Meaning: Someone that is trustworthy / someone to do unsual things with

28. To have a bird

German: Einen Vogel haben
Meaning: To be a little cuckoo

29. To look too deep into the glass

German: Zu tief ins Glas schauen
Meaning: To drink too much

30. Small cattle also make poop

German: Kleinvieh macht auch Mist
Meaning: Small wins also count/small wins add up

31. Under all pig

German: Unter aller Sau
Meaning: Catastrophic

32. Under all cannon

German: Unter aller Kanone
Meaning: To be really lousy

33. To play the offended liver sausage

German: Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen
Meaning: Being unnecessarily pouty

34. To give someone a basket

German: Einen Korb geben
Meaning: To be stood up

35. All in butter

German: Alles in Butter
Meaning: Everything is ok

36. To tie a bear to someone

German: Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden
Meaning: To lie to someone in a joking matter

37. To hit someone over the ear

German: Jemanden übers Ohr hauen
Meaning: To bamboozle/trick someone

38. Why is the banana curved?

German: Warum ist die Banane krumm?
Meaning: I don’t know either

39. The fish stinks from the head

German: Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her
Meaning: The problems start at the top (in an organization)

40. I am not a cow to be milked

German: Ich bin keine Kuh, die man melken kann!
Meaning: You can’t take advantage of me

41. To go down with drums and trumpets

German: Mit Pauken und Trompeten durchfallen
Meaning: To fail gloriously, guns blazing

42. That is an argument over the emperor’s beard

German: Das ist ein Streit um des Kaisers Bart
Meaning: To get lost in the details

43. To put a monkey theater on stage

German: Ein Affentheater aufführen
Meaning: To perform a charade

44. To stick under one blanket

German: Unter einer Decke stecken
Meaning: To do something secretly with someone

45. The egg of Columbus

German: Das Ei des Kolumbus
Meaning: An easy solution to a problem that appears difficult to solve

46. Search/ find for a hair in the soup

German: Haar in der Suppe suchen/finden
Meaning: To see a glass half empty

47. I think my pig whistles

German: Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift
Meaning: That’s absurd

48. I even eat a broom

German: Da fresse ich glatt einen Besen
Meaning: I can’t believe it

49. There we have the salad

German: Da haben wir den Salat
Meaning: Now we have a problem

50. We sit beautifully in the ink

German: Wir sitzen schön in der Tinte!
Meaning: We are in a bad situation

51. It goes off like the cat of Schmitz’

German: Das geht ab wie Schmitz’ Katze
Meaning: It’s great, it’s a lot of fun

52. That is sausage for me

German: Das ist mir Wurst
Meaning: I don’t care

53. The poop is steaming

German: Die Kacke ist am dampfen
Meaning: We are in trouble

54. Sponge over

German: Schwamm drüber
Meaning: Don’t worry about it

55. Now butter at the fish

German: Jetzt Butter bei die Fische
Meaning: To speak the truth, get to work, give extra effort

56. Human, Meier

German: Mensch, Meier
Meaning: Jeez!

57. Don’t bring me on the palm tree

German: Bring mich nicht auf die Palme
Meaning: Don’t get me started, don’t get me angry

58. To laugh into one’s small fist

German: Sich ins Fäustchen lachen
Meaning: To laugh up one’s sleeve – To rejoice or be amused secretly

59. That is jacket as pants

German: Das ist Jacke wie Hose
Meaning: It doesn’t matter, there is no difference

60. To put everything on one card

German: Alles auf eine Karte setzen
Meaning: Put your eggs in one basket

61. Bang and fall

German: Knall und Fall
Meaning: Suddenly

62. Get the cow off the ice

German: Die Kuh vom Eis holen
Meaning: Avert imminent danger/ to difuse a difficult situation

63. Those are two pairs of boots

German: Das sind zwei Paar Stiefel
Meaning: Those are two different unrelated matters

65. To turn the skewer

German: Den Spieß umdrehen
Meaning: To switch roles / to retaliate

66. To see something through pink glasses

German: Etwas durch die rosarote Brille sehen
Meaning: To be naive / too optimistic

67. To let down one’s pants

German: Die Hosen runterlassen
Meaning: To come clean

68. That’s not the yellow of the egg

German: Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei
Meaning: To be insufficient / not the best

69. Here is dead pants

German: Hier ist Tote Hose
Meaning: Nothing is happening here / It’s boring

70. Until the dolls

German: Bis in die Puppen
Meaning: Until late

71. To go around the corner

German: Um die Ecke gehen
Meaning: To go to the bathroom

71. To shoot cannons at sparrows

German: Mit Kanonen auf Spatzen schießen
Meaning: Overkill

72. I make me from the field

German: Ich mache mich vom Acker
Meaning: I am leaving

73. To make the fly

German: Die Fliege machen
Meaning: To leave

74. To have the nose/snout full

German: Die Nase/Die Schnauze voll haben
Meaning: To be fed up

75. Like a rock in the surf

German: Wie ein Fels in der Brandung
Meaning: Solid as a rock

76. Nonsense with sauce

German: Quatsch mit Soße
Meaning: Total nonsense

77. That is not my beer

German: Das ist nicht mein Bier
Meaning: That is none of my business

78. Until the doctor comes

German: Bis der Arzt kommt
Meaning: Excessively

79. To not have all cups in the cupboard

German: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Meaning: To be bonkers

80. To say something through the flower

German: Etwas durch die Blume sagen
Meaning: To break something to someone gently

81. To not have a buck

German: Keinen Bock haben
Meaning: To not be in the mood

82. Sport is murder

German: Sport ist Mord
Meaning: Sport can be dangerous /exhausting

83. That is to milk the mice

German: Das ist zum Mäusemelken
Meaning: To become desperate

84. That is the hammer!

German: Das ist der Hammer!
Meaning: That’s awesome!

85. For an apple and an egg

German: Für einen Apfel und ein Ei
Meaning: A bargain / a steal

86. To pull something out of someone’s nose

German: Jemandem etwas aus der Nase ziehen
Meaning: To force conversation with someone

87. To let the pig out

German: Die Sau rauslassen
Meaning: To party hard / to paint the town red

88. To look dumb from the laundry

German: Dumm aus der Wäsche gucken
Meaning: To look surprised

89. To dance on someone’s nose

German: Jemanden auf der Nase herumtanzen
Meaning: To walk all over someone / To be disrespectful

90. Stay where the pepper is grown!

German: Bleib wo der Pfeffer wächst!
Meaning: Stay away!

91. Oh you green nines!

German: Ach du grüne Neune!
Meaning: Good heavens!

92. I sit on you

German: Ich setz auf dich
Meaning: I count on you

93. Three cheeses high

German: Dreikäsehoch
Meaning: A small smart and curious child

94. Could’ve could’ve bike chain

German: Hätte hätte Fahrradkette
Meaning: Hindsight is easier than foresight

95. To not be able to pass someone the water

German: Jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können
Meaning: Can’t hold a candle to someone – inferior to someone or smth.

96. To keep the ball leveled

German: Den Ball flach halten
Meaning: To not exaggerate

97. To act like a dying swan

German: Den sterbenden Schwan markieren
Meaning: To exaggerate injury/pain

98. The morning hour has gold in the mouth

German: Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Meaning: The early bird catches the worm

99. That seems Spanish to me

German: Das kommt mir Spanisch vor
Meaning: Something is off/something is fishy

100. To make a Polish

German: Einen Polnischen machen
Meaning: To sneak away without saying good-bye (e.g. at a party)

101. Here goes the post mail off!

German: Hier geht die Post ab!
Meaning: It’s all happening here!

102. It’s five to twelve

German: Es ist fünf vor zwölf
Meaning: It’s high time

103. To have hair on one’s teeth

German: Haare auf den Zähnen haben
Meaning: To be confrontational/bossy

104. That goes in the pants!

German: Das geht in die Hose!
Meaning: It will fail!

105. To promise the blue of the sky

German: Das blaue vom Himmel versprechen
Meaning: To uninhibitedly promise the impossible

106. To dance out of line

German: Aus der Reihe tanzen
Meaning: To not stick to the rules/agreement

107. To be the little tongue on the scale

German: Das Zünglein an der Waage sein
Meaning: To hold the balance of power

108. To smear honey around someone’s mouth

German: Jemandem Honig um den Mund schmieren
Meaning: To butter someone up

109. Stay with the ball!

German: Bleib am Ball!
Meaning: Keep at it!

110. To draw a line through someone’s calculation

German: Einen Strich durch die Rechnung machen
Meaning: To ruins someone’s plans

111. Everything has an ending, only the sausage has two

German: Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei
Meaning: Everything will come to an end eventually

That’s the ultimate list of German idioms in English. I hope you had some laughs and learned some so you can impress your German friends.