Language/German/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

German Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions

Hi German learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about some common German idiomatic expressions that will help you sound more like a native speaker. German idioms are a key feature of the German language and culture, so it's essential to learn about them if you want to improve your German skills.

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Airport & False Friends.

What are idiomatic expressions?

An idiomatic expression is a phrase that has a meaning that is not deducible from the words themselves. These expressions can be difficult to translate because their meanings often depend on the context in which they are used. For example, the German expression "Da liegt der Hase im Pfeffer" translates literally to "There lies the rabbit in the pepper." However, this expression actually means "That's where the problem lies."

Learning idiomatic expressions is important because they help us to better understand the language and the culture of the country where the language is spoken. They also provide a more interesting and nuanced way to express ourselves. So let's get started!

Idioms in German

Here are some common German idioms with their meanings:

German	Pronunciation	English
Da liegt der Hase im Pfeffer	da laɪkt deːɐ̯ ˈhaːzə ɪm ˈpɛfɐ	That's where the problem lies.
Das ist ein Katzensprung	das ɪst aɪn ˈkatst͡sənˌʃpʀʊŋ	It's just a stone's throw away.
Jetzt geht's um die Wurst	ˈjɛtst ɡeːts ʊm diː vʊʁst	This is the crucial moment.
Tomaten auf den Augen haben	toːˈmaːtn̩ aʊf deːn ˈaʊɡən ˈhabən	To be oblivious to what's going on.
Schwein haben	ʃvaɪn ˈhabən	to be lucky
Ich drücke dir die Daumen	ɪç ˈdʁʏkə dɪʁ diː ˈdaʊmən	Cross my fingers for you.
In den sauren Apfel beißen	ɪn deːn ˈzaʊʁən ˈʔapfəl ˈbaɪ̯sən	To bite the bullet.

Use these expressions, and you will become more fluent in German! Whenever you want to sound like a true German speaker, try using some idiomatic expressions. By doing so, you will not only improve your German skills but also impress your German friends and colleagues with your language skills.

Examples in Context

To better understand how to use these idiomatic expressions, let's see some examples:

• Person 1: Mein Chef hat mir gerade gekündigt. (My boss just fired me.)
• Person 2: Das tut mir leid. Aber du solltest den Kopf nicht in den Sand stecken. (I'm sorry to hear that. But you should not bury your head in the sand.)

• Person 1: Ich kann nicht auf die Party gehen, weil ich krank bin. (I can't go to the party because I'm sick.)
• Person 2: Schade, aber Gesundheit geht vor. (Too bad, but health comes first.)

• Person 1: Ich habe gestern in der Lotterie gewonnen! (I won the lottery yesterday!)
• Person 2: Wow, du hast Schwein! (Wow, you're lucky!)

• Person 1: Ich habe morgen eine wichtige Prüfung. (I have an important exam tomorrow.)
• Person 2: Ich drücke dir die Daumen! (I'll cross my fingers for you!)

• Person 1: Die neue Wohnung ist wirklich toll, aber ein bisschen teuer. (The new apartment is really great, but a bit expensive.)
• Person 2: Aber es ist doch ein Katzensprung von deinem Büro, oder? (But it's just a stone's throw from your office, right?)

Conclusion

Learning idiomatic expressions is an essential part of mastering any language. In this lesson, we have learned several common German idiomatic expressions that will help you to sound more like a native speaker. Remember to use them in context to achieve a more natural and fluent-sounding German. Don't forget to check out Find native speakers and ask them any questions to improve your skills even more!

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Days of the Week & Asking Directions.

Other Lessons

• False Friends
• Language
• Maps
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• At Home
• Count to 10
• Tongue twisters
• Drinks
• Shapes
• States of Germany

Sources

• German Idioms: 90 Idioms For Fluency – StoryLearning
• German Expressions, Idioms and Slang Phrases: 180 of the Best
• 10 German expressions everyone should know ‹ GO Blog | EF GO ...