Colloquial German Expressions

(Thankyou to Gerrit Bretzler and Peter Schroeder for many of these expressions)

Searching this list This collection is listed in alphabetical order according to a key word in the German expression. You can search this page (and the other expressions pages) for a specific key word in German or English by using the combination of Ctrl and F on your keyboard. If you want to enter a German word that contains an Umlaut, you can copy and paste from one of these here: ä ö ü ß

A-E | F-H | I-L | M-R | S-T | U-Z

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A

Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen. = You must finish what you start.

ab und zu = off and on (now and then)

völlig abgebrannt sein = to be completely broke, penniless

Abgemacht! = It's a deal! Done!

mit Ach und Krach = with great difficulty, barely

Ich glaube, mich laust der Affe. = Well, I'll be damned.

Aller Anfang ist schwer. = Starting is always the hardest part.

in tausend Ängsten schweben = to be frantic

per Anhalter fahren = to hitch-hike

Ja und Amen zu (etwas) sagen = to let someone win an argument so that it’s over with

Das sitzt wie angegossen. = That's a perfect fit (fits like a glove). [clothing]

jemanden anschwärzen = to denounce/denigrate someone, to put them down

kurz angebunden (mit jemandem) sein = to be short/curt (with someone)

Du bist ein Angsthase = You're a scaredy-cat

Er antwortete wie aus der Pistole geschossen. = He answered immediately.

‘in den sauren Apfel beißen’ = 'to swallow the bitter pill', 'to bite the bullet'

arm wie eine Kirchenmaus sein = to be very poor

(eine Person) auf den Arm nehmen = to pull someone’s leg

auf und ab = up and down (to and fro)

Das springt in die Augen. = That is very obvious.

In meinen Augen... = In my view, as I see it...

unter vier Augen = face-to-face, in private

aus den Augen verlieren = to lose sight of, lose track of a thing

ein Auge haben auf... = to have an eye on...

aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn = out of sight, out of mind

große Augen machen = to open one's eyes (wide), to goggle, to be astonished

beide Augen zudrücken = to turn a blind eye to something, to be very tolerant of something

Ich traute meinen Augen nicht. = I did not believe (or trust) my eyes.

ins Auge fallen = to stand out, to attract one's eye

(etwas) im Auge behalten = to keep one's eye on (something), to keep (something) in mind

Ausgeschlossen! = No way! Nothing doing! Out of the question!

Außen fix, innen nix / außen hui, innen pfui = All show and no substance

Das gibt bei ihm (bei ihr) den Ausschlag. = That clinches it for him (for her).

B

(etwas) auf die lange Bank schieben = to postpone, put (something) off

stark wie ein Bär = strong as a bear (ox)

jemandem einen Bären aufbinden = to put one over someone, make them believe something that’s not true.

So ein Bart! (Die Geschichte hat einen langen Bart) = That story is as old as the hills.

in Bausch und Bogen = lock, stock, and barrel

Er ist bekannt wie ein bunter Hund. = He's known all over town.

über den Berg sein = to have broken the back of something (to have gone over the hill)

Hinterm Berge wohnen auch Leute. = You're not the only pebble on the beach.

Es war zum Bersten voll. = It was full to the bursting point.

"Ich fresse einen Besen, wenn..." = "I’ll eat my hat if..."

Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen. = A stitch in time saves nine.

Das beste, was man sich nur denken kann. = The best one could possibly imagine.

Mag es biegen oder brechen... = By hook or by crook...

fleißig wie eine Biene = busy as a bee

im Bilde sein (über + accusative case) = to be in the know, to be in the picture, to be aware (about...)

Er (sie) nimmt kein Blatt vor den Mund. = He (she) doesn't mince his (her) words (makes no bones about it).

wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel = like a bolt out of the blue

durch eine rosa Brille sehen = to see things through rose-colored glasses

Du kannst mir den Buckel runterrutschen! = Go sit on a tack! / You can get lost!

D

Er hat einen Dachschaden. = He's not right in the head.

Sie stecken unter einer Decke. = They're in cahoots together.

Ich drücke dir/Ihnen die Daumen. = I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Mit allem Drum und Dran = The whole shebang

Ich denke nicht im Traum daran. = I wouldn't dream of it.

Das habe ich mir wohl gedacht! = I thought as much!

Auf gut deutsch = In plain language

Er ist nicht ganz dicht. = He's not right in the head.

Er (sie) hat einen Dickschädel. = He's (she's) pig-headed.

Er (sie) war mir ein Dorn im Auge. = He (she) was a thorn in my side.

auf Draht sein = to be in good form, to be on the ball

Das geht dich einen Dreck an! = That's none of your damn business!

Er (sie) ist dumm wie Bohnenstroh. = He (she) is as thick (dumb) as a post.

E

Ich kann das aus dem Effeff. = I can do that standing on my head (with both hands tied).

wie aus dem Ei gepellt = spick and span

Kümmere dich nicht um ungelegte Eier. = Don't cross your bridges before you come to them.

Was man sich eingebrockt hat, das muss man auch auslöffeln. = You've made your bed, now you must lie in it.

(etwas) auf Eis legen = to put (something) on ice, shelve it, postpone it for a while

Man soll das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist. = One should strike while the iron's hot.

Ende gut, alles gut. = All's well that ends well.

Das Ende vom Lied war, dass... = The upshot was that… (The end of the story was that…)

Das dicke Ende kommt noch. = The worst is yet to come.

Ein Esel schimpft den anderen Langohr. = That's the pot calling the kettle black.

next: expressions F-H