47 Must-Know German Idioms to Understand and Use Yourself! [With Examples]

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You likely use idioms WAY more than you think. Inside, we go through some of the most common German idioms and how they relate (or don't!) to familiar English idioms. Plus, some of them are quite quirky and have hilarious literal English translations. We'll also look at the interesting origins (pretty much always from the Middle Ages) of some of the German idioms such as 'to keep the church in the village.'
4 Sections:
1. 🔄 Exact Match Idioms - These have identical counterparts in English and German! E.g., 'das Rad neu erfinden' = 'to reinvent the wheel'.
2. 🧐 Slightly Different Idioms - Strikingly similar but with tiny differences. Like 'sich in die Höhle des Löwen wagen' = 'to walk [German: dare oneself] into the lion's den'.
3. 🎭 Comparable but Unique Idioms - The fun ones where the meaning is the same but the phrase is worlds apart, like 'Das ist Schnee von gestern' ('that's snow from yesterday) = that's water under the bridge.
4. 🤷‍♂️ No English Equivalent - Unique German idioms that don't have an English counterpart.
🗣 Your Turn!:
Have any funny idioms to share? Drop them in the comments! Let's learn and laugh together. 😆
⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:12 (1) das Rad neu erfinden (to reinvent the wheel)
01:45 (2) den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen (to hit the nail on the head)
02:19 (3) den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen (to not see the forest for the trees)
02:56 ** Section 2: Slightly Different **
03:14 (4) sich in die Höhle des Löwen wagen (to walk into the lion's den)
03:47 (5) den Kopf in den Sand stecken (to bury one's head in the sand)
04:20 (6) auf den Punkt kommen (to get to the point)
05:03 (7) Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung setzen (to move heaven and earth)
05:43 (8) das fünfte Rad am Wagen (a third wheel)
06:25 (9) den Faden verlieren (to lose one's train of thought)
06:58 (10) ein Ohr abkauen (to talk someone's ear off)
07:29 (11) sich zum Affen machen (to make a fool of oneself)
07:53 (12) in den sauren Apfel beißen (to bite the bullet)
09:14 (13) (etwas) an den Nagel hängen (to hang up one's boots)
09:47 (14) die Flinte ins Korn werfen (to throw in the towel)
10:48 (15) in den Wind schreiben (to kiss something goodbye)
11:45 (16) wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen (like a fish out of water)
12:35 (17) wie ein Elefant im Porzellanladen (like a bull in a china shop)
13:14 (18) ein heißes Eisen sein (to be a hot potato)
14:11 (19) Das ist ein Katzensprung (That's a stone's throw away)
14:40 ** Section 3: Comparable but Unique **
15:05 (20) unter den Tisch fallen lassen (to sweep under the rug)
16:02 (21) um den heißen Brei herumreden (to beat around the bush)
17:19 (22) fix und fertig sein (to be running on fumes)
18:15 (23) die Suppe auslöffeln müssen (to have to face the music)
19:06 (24) einen Zahn zulegen (to put the pedal to the metal)
19:38 (25) auf dem Schlauch stehen (to not be able to make heads or tails out of something)
20:15 (26) das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen (to promise the moon)
21:13 (27) einen Bären aufbinden (to pull someone’s leg)
21:53 (28) über den Tellerrand schauen (to think outside the box)
22:59 (29) Das ist Schnee von gestern (That is water under the bridge)
23:38 (30) Nicht dein Bier! (Not your beeswax!)
24:02 (31) Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof (It's all Greek to me!)
24:52 (32) etwas aus dem Ärmel schütteln (to be a piece of cake)
25:41 (33) den Teufel tun (when pigs fly)
26:38 (34) Tomaten auf den Augen haben
27:06 (35) etwas aus dem Ärmel schütteln (to be a piece of cake)
28:35 (36) Das ist nicht gerade das Gelbe vom Ei (That's not quite up to snuff)
29:09 (37) den Teufel an die Wand malen (to meet trouble halfway)
30:03 (38) wie ein Schluck Wasser in der Kurve (thin as a rail)
30:46 ** Section 4: No English Equivalents **
31:11 (39) die Nase voll (von etw.) haben (to be sick and tired of something)
31:38 (40) (etwas) hinter die Ohren schreiben (to make a mental note of something)
32:11 (41) die Kirche im Dorf lassen (to keep things in perspective)
33:01 (42) Alles in Butter! (Everything's hunky-dory!)
33:30 (43) aus allen Wolken fallen (to be completely taken aback)
34:17 (44) sich aus dem Staub machen (to abscond)
35:08 (45) ein Haar in der Suppe finden (to nitpick)
36:41 (46) auf dem Holzweg sein (to be off the mark)
37:31 (47) einen Korb bekommen (to be spurned)
38:58 Outro

[@GermanwithLaura]

👋Did you arrive here from a Google search? If so, what were you searching for?

[@AnnaMariya-ks7zd]

Yes , i did. Btw I had a doubt which randomly came to my mind when I was learning German , this doubt is not related to the video but can you please explain please, please 🙏 So , there's this sentence "Als der Sänger dann in Sarahs Wohnzimmer den ersten Ton sang, bekam ich eine Gänsehaut." Why is denn used in this sentence? I got so confused reading this in the exam , could you please explain? Thanks if you have read this. Love your videos

[@haggihug3162]

Its hard to explain. I am no german teacher nor I am good in explaining grammer, just a native speaker. In this sentence I think the DANN shows that there was a time befor the singer began to sing. Like all people were waiting that something will happen and then it happened. Its like in the meaning of „Als der Sänger dann **endlich** in Sarahs Wohnzimmer den ersten Ton sang … It emphasises that a time was there before he began to sing. And that shows there was a sort of tension befor he began. @@AnnaMariya-ks7zd

[@AnnaMariya-ks7zd]

@@haggihug3162 oooh that was helpful

[@CabinFever52]

Nein, es kam in meine Liste.

[@waffsupwaffle5601]

one of the best German Teacher there is.

[@Direct_Dil_Se15]

Du bist so eine Inspiration für mich..... Grundkenntnisse in Deutsch zu lernen...Liebe Grüße aus Indien...... 🇩🇪🤝🇮🇳

[@carldavis1407]

I've seen your ads for as far back as I can remember, and for the life of me, I don't know how it is that I didn't realize you have your own channel. At any rate, I'm here now. So...I best buckle down and get to it 😎

[@GermanwithLaura]

So glad you are here!

[@a.l.3182]

Very helpful to become aware of these. Thank you!

[@flonations1323]

Thank you for another new video. Congratulations on getting to 100,000 subscribers. Great accomplishment, and very well deserved. So happy

[@tomweiss9600]

Just found your videos and love your enthusiasm and teaching style. "Everything in butter" has to be my favorite!

[@brendaworthey9674]

Yay! Another new video. Thank you Laura for continuing to push us.

[@pedrocavalcante5822]

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zu 100.000 Abonnenten!

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thank you!

[@chriswood2038]

Wieder einmal ein tolles Video von dir Laura. Sehr lehrreich und interessant.

[@nikagabiskiria8207]

Vielen Dank, es ist sehr hilfreich

[@jihedmedini1318]

Congrads for 100K subs lehrerin 🎉🎉🎉

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thanks!

[@Juma2000]

Thank you for yet another informative and helpful video (and congratulations on reaching 100K subscribers) I'm including some additional idioms I hear most often here in Germany: Eulen nach Athen trägen - selling ice to Eskimos Besser spät als gar nicht - Better late than never aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen - to make a mountain out of a molehill Die Daumen drücken - to cross your fingers Im siebten Himmel schweben - to be on cloud 9 Übung macht den Meister - Practice makes perfect Jeder Topf findet seinen Deckel - There's a lid for every pot and a pot for every lid. Du gehst mir tierisch auf den Keks - You're really getting on my nerves Die Katze aus dem Sack lassen - To let the cat out of the bag Der Fisch stinkt vom Kopf her - This idiom implies that problems or issues within an organization or group often start with poor leadership or management at the top.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thanks for adding to the list!

[@danielsahagun4367]

Dear Teacher: Was soll ich sagen?: Toll gemacht!!!!!! Dankeschön. Es fällt mir schwer, Deutsche zu lernen. !Deutsch Sprache, schwere Sprache!

[@GermanwithLaura]

German requires work and commitment, but you can do this!

[@kellysharpe2122]

#39 I figured would be in the previous category (it was the first one to pop into my head) because I think of it as "having (something) up to here". "I've had it up to here with him!" Lol. But I see how it fits in this category, too, and I'm glad you included it. It's one of my favorites.

[@jennyfrumdablok1426]

Love your videos Laura! I am very interested to expand my knowledge of German but I really want to finish your German foundations 1 course before I branch out too much because I don't want to get overwhelmed and give up. I am just on declensions pattern 3 and I am loving the whole course so far

[@flonations1323]

It is a really awesome course, both of them are so full of great information. I have learned so much from them. Declensions are so fun to learn.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Prioritizing the course is a great plan. So glad you are enjoying it so far!

[@wheiko]

Very helpful and inspiring. Just an addition for #20: We do have „unter den Teppich kehren“, too.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thanks!

[@CabinFever52]

#24 Danke für die Erklärung des Zahns.

[@laurietyer3028]

Thank you for taking the time to teach us the incredible German language; So, the kinder train is what got my interest from the war era. My favorite idiom is Nicht din Bier, which I posted on an October fest celebration with everyone dressed in the traditional German festival attire. LOL

[@eviltk7920]

Hi „Unter den Teppich kehren“ kennen wir aber auch. „Wenn Schweine fliegen können“ auch.

[@simonewoodwell7354]

Love this video and really enjoy all of your videos. They all have been helpful. I believe I can learn these but basic German idioms have made my life difficult ie ich spinne.

[@GermanwithLaura]

So glad the videos have been helpful! Keep up the great work.

[@LeandroSouza-we9mz]

Hello Laura!! It is so good to learn German with you!! Thank you very much for helping us!!

[@GermanwithLaura]

You're so welcome!

[@faysalahmed3348]

Congratulations, teacher, on reaching 100K Subs 😀

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thank you! It was a special moment!

[@user-xg6cw8rp8h]

I think the idiom about throwing the shotgun into the field might come from a farmer shooting at crows to protect his crop, then giving up on the idea and throwing the fire arm away. That seems more logical to me than the explanation offered. My favorite of the group overall is definitely "Alles in Butter!" Love it.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Interesting thought on that alternative meaning. We might not ever know for sure! Thanks for watching the video! - Nicole, GwL Team

[@raivojutans]

First two idioms we use still in Latvian 1 : 1.

[@MarsOhr]

15:50 to sweep under the rug. In German there is also "unter den Teppich kehren", has a different meaning than "unter den Tisch fallen lassen". 18:30 You could mention here the idiom "Suppe einbrocken". "Du hast dir die Suppe eingebrockt, jetzt mußt du sie auch auslöffeln". 20:50 I disagree. I use "auf dem Schlauch stehen" in the meaning of "I'm stressed". "I have only short time to complete my work, ich stehe auf dem Schlauch". Don't forget the adjective "geschlaucht", means exhausted.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thanks for your comments. In response to your third point, the big difference is that the phrase is using the noun Schlauch versus the verb schlaucht (where you get the colloquial ‘geschlaucht’ from.) Best, Nicole - GwL Team

[@ruthloewen3884]

I was amused to hear a German friend say 'nicht mein Ding', a literal translation of 'not my thing'. Perhaps it's not an original expression in German, but one of the many current adoptions from English. Also, I believe there is a German expression that is very close to the English description of a town 'rolling up the sidewalks' at night, though I don't remember what that wording was.

[@shamicentertainment1262]

did we use to share all these idioms before or did they independently become used and said?

[@GermanwithLaura]

Great question! I would guess there is some crossover and sharing, but from my quick search, it’s not really known how so many different languages and cultures share the same ideas for idioms. It might be an interesting deep dive whenever you have the time! - Nicole, GwL Team

[@CCLilja]

Being Swedish it felt kind of awkward to be learning German idioms in English translation. Swedish and German are fairly close in that regard.

[@sigmaoctantis1892]

Hi, I'm not quite up to conversational German yet, nevertheless, "unter den Tisch fallen lassen" seems more like "slip between the cracks". That is, it is allowing something to happen rather that actively doing it, as in sweeping under the rug. Is that right?

[@GermanwithLaura]

Sweeping under the rug, or to let it fall under the table, would be trying to avoid it. Slip between the cracks would be accidentally missing something. :) - Nicole, GwL Team

[@sigmaoctantis1892]

@@GermanwithLaura In what case would letting something happen be trying to avoid it?

[@GermanwithLaura]

Not sure if those two things can coexist! You said in your first comment: it is allowing something to happen rather that actively doing it, as in sweeping under the rug I was was trying to say that sweeping under the rug is NOT allowing something to happen, whether actively or inactively. In the example Laura gave, she mentioned trying to ignore something. Sweeping something under the rug could also mean trying to hide something. Sorry if I am missing what you are trying to say here, but hope this helps! -Nicole, GwL Team

[@sigmaoctantis1892]

@@GermanwithLaura My question is, does the German idiom suggest an active or passive action? To let something happen can be a choice of inaction, meaning I refrain from action and let things run their course. Alternatively, letting something happen can mean that I overlooked something and due to my inattention an event occurred. The third possibility is where I take an active role and hide something to avoid future consequences, I sweep it under the rug. As I said, noting that my German is not well developed, "under den Tisch fallen lassen" seems to be more like "I dropped the ball on that one". So, which meaning does it have? A call to inaction, let sleeping dogs lie. An oversight, I dropped the ball. A deliberately intended action, I swept it under the rug.

[@GermanwithLaura]

I doubled checked with Laura on this. It is option C, a deliberately intended action for this idiom. All the best! - Nicole

[@jamesdonovan3002]

I remember one that would probably fit in your third category. Ich red' wie mir der Schnabel gewachsen ist.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Nice one!

[@patrickdebonis6493]

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof comes from the German soldiers in the trenches during World War One who were obsessed with the thought of their train ride home. It is is indeed used as "it's all Greek to me," but it is so because all of ones thoughts were on something else.

[@GermanwithLaura]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Delilahfatcat6]

To “receive a ‘Dear John’ letter”

[@voyager8195]

Etwas aus dem armel schütteln The English equivalent is to shake the tree and see what falls out?

[@GermanwithLaura]

Could be! I will try to ask the rest of the team and get back with you. -Nicole, GwL Team

[@bluesun2x215]

To bite the bullet comes from WWI soldiers who had to bite down on ammunition encased in either pig skin or cow skin, which in the Middle eastern theater pigs were sacrilege to Arabs and cows were holy to Hindus, but they needed to fight regardless of these beliefs.

[@GermanwithLaura]

That very well could be possible! From our research, it's not entirely clear where the idiom came from, but we can definitely be sure of it's meaning. :) Thanks for the comment. - Nicole, GwL Team

[@sigmaoctantis1892]

The first known use of "bite the bullet" comes from the English civil war, 1642-1651. Your reference to cartridges (for Enfield rifle 1853) greased with tallow, relates to the period leading up to the Indian Rebellion, 1857. The cartridges for the Lee-Enfield rifles, introduced 1895 and used in WW1, were brass.