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If you’re trying to get the ball rolling on having more creative conversations with native German speakers, then it’s time to break the ice by learning German idioms (Redewendung). Here’s the kicker: Just as a non-native English speaker might be left with their wires crossed reading this paragraph, you might also feel a challenge making heads or tails of idioms in German when translated word for word.
Similar to German slang, you need context to get a clear picture of how to spice up conversation with idiomatic phrases. So, komm auf den grünen Zweig (“come onto the green branch” or make a successful start) with native German speakers and learn how to speak German with the best German idioms.
From the horse’s mouth: What is an idiom?
Idioms, sometimes referred to as idiomatic phrases, are expressions whose meanings aren’t obvious when you look at their literal wording. They’re quirky ways people can use language to communicate meanings figuratively. For example, hearing information from someone with firsthand knowledge on the matter is known in English as “hearing it from the horse’s mouth,” regardless of whether that someone is a horse, human, or something else entirely.
Using and understanding idiomatic German phrases in your daily communications helps you avoid confusion and fit in with groups of native German speakers. It takes your conversations beyond a simple good morning in German or hello in German to a more creative interaction with more cultural context. Idioms can even be a delightful conversation segway into the cultural history behind these non-literal phrases!
16 English to German idioms with the same meaning
While many idioms are nonsensical when literally translated, you can match idioms from English to German idioms when they share the same meaning. You can start with the similarities between German and English while expanding your language skills to make German easy to learn. The idioms below can be matched almost word for word with—and share the same messages as—common idioms used in everyday English conversations.
Taten sagen mehr als Worte
Meaning: Actions speak louder than words.
This idiom emphasizes that what people do is more significant than what they say. It’s easy to talk about your motives and values, but true character and intentions are revealed through what is done rather than promises alone.
- Er verspricht immer, sich zu ändern, aber Taten sagen mehr als Worte. = He always promises to change, but actions speak louder than words.
Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen
Meaning: Hit the nail on the head
When someone has “hit the nail on the head,” they’ve perfectly pointed out the core of an issue or said something exactly right. You can compliment someone’s keen observation and direct the conversation to a certain point with this saying.
- Er hat den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen, als er sagte, dass wir mehr Zeit für die Vorbereitung brauchen. = He hit the nail on the head when he said we need more time for preparation.
Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm
Meaning: The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Likening the tree’s creation of apples to the parent’s creation of their children, this idiom is used to highlight similarities between parent and offspring. You can point out how traits, habits, and characteristics are passed from one generation to the next by sprinkling this German idiom into conversation.
- Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm, er hat genauso viel Geduld wie sein Vater. = The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree; he has as much patience as his father.
Other English and German idioms with the same meaning
Here are a few more German idioms that march wording and meaning with English idioms to round out your first step into more creative German conversations:
| German Idiom | Equivalent English Idiom | Meaning |
| alle Eier in eine Korb legen | to put all your eggs in one basket | to put all hopes and efforts into one thing |
| Auf Wolke sieben sein. | on cloud nine | being extremely happy |
| Das Gras ist immer grüner auf der anderen Seite | The grass is always greener on the other side. | Other situations seem better than your own, but it’s rarely true. |
| Das Handtuch werfen. | throw in the towel | to give up or admit defeat. |
| Den Stier bei den Hörnern packen. | grab the bull by the horns | to deal decisively with a difficult or dangerous situation. |
| Die Ärmel hochkrempeln. | roll up your sleeves | to get ready to work hard |
| Ein Wolf im Schafspelz. | a wolf in sheep’s clothing | Someone who hides malicious intent under the guise of kindliness. |
| Einen klaren Kopf haben. | keeping a clear head | maintaining a calm, level-headed mindset |
| Jede Wolke hat einen Silberstreifen. | Every cloud has its silver lining. | There is always a positive aspect to unpleasant situations. |
| Kein Dach über dem Kopf haben. | I don’t have a roof over my head. | I am homeless/unhoused. |
| Weine nicht über verschüttete Milch. | Don’t cry over spilt milk. | There is no point in being upset over something that has already happened. |
| Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen. | kill two birds with one stone | solving two issues at the same time with one action |
| Zwei Gesichter haben. | being two-faced | having two sides to one’s character |
15 funny German idioms that make no sense in English
Keep things casual with your German friends and share in the creativity of the German language by exploring these funny German idioms. You can enjoy a good laugh as you read the literal translations of these German idioms in English, then come across as a real jokester as you learn how to include them in conversation.
Du kannst du Gift drauf nehmen
While it may seem counterintuitive, this saying literally translates to “you can take poison on that,” meaning that something is a sure thing. The intention is that you would stake something as serious as your life on a particular outcome or event.
- Ich habe sehr viel studiert, also werde ich den Test bestehen. Du kannst dir Gift drauf nehmen! = I studied a lot, so I will pass the test. You can bet your life on that!
Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund
Similar to the English phrase “the early bird gets the worm,” this idiom is used to encourage you to wake up early and to inspire hard work in the morning hours. The phrase literally translates to “The morning hour has gold in the mouth,” meaning there’s wealth to be earned in the wee hours of the morning for those who claim it.
- Mein Chef sagt immer, wir sollen um sechs anfangen, weil Morgenstund Gold im Mund hat. = My boss always says we should start at six because the morning hour is golden.
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
If you’ve opened the floodgates of using local idioms with a native German speaker and now they’re using idiomatic phrases you don’t know, then you can use this phrase to express your confusion. This idiom means “I only understand ‘train station’.”
- Er hat so viel über Technik geredet, dass ich nur Bahnhof verstehe. = He talked so much about technology, and I didn’t understand a word of it.
One theory suggests that this phrase comes from back when people traveled mostly by train in the 19th century. A foreign traveler arriving at a train station might only be familiar with basic native terms like Bahnhof (train station) while traveling, so they might have said this to communicate a limited understanding of what a person said.
Other funny German idioms
Enjoy a laugh among friends with these other funny idioms in German that don’t always have an English equivalent:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. | Everything has its end—only sausages have two. | All things must come to an end. |
| Die Daumen drücken. | press the thumbs | Wishing someone luck, like crossing your fingers |
| Du gehst mir auf den Keks. | You are going on my biscuit. | You are irritating me. |
| dumm wie Bohnenstroh | dumb as a beanstalk | calling someone/something unintelligent |
| Eine Extrawurst verlangen. | demand an extra sausage | to insist upon special treatment |
| Etwas wie seine Westentasche kennen. | to know something like your vest pocket | understanding something very well |
| jacke wie Hose | jacket like pants | It does not matter either way. |
| Jemandem die Haare vom Kopf fressen. | eating the hairs from someone’s head | eating a lot of food when someone else pays for it |
| Kein Schwein war da. | No pig was there. | No one was in attendance. |
| Schuster, bleib bei deinen Leisten. | Shoemaker, stick to your trade. | Reminds someone to stop talking about something they know nothing about. |
| Tomaten auf den Augen haben. | have tomato on the eyes | not seeing something or being blind to it |
| Zwei linke Hände haben | having two left hands | being unskilled in doing something or not being dexterous |
14 animal-inspired idioms in German
Ever since the first Märchen (fairy tales) were written, animals and their traits have been an inspiration for language and figurative meaning. Whether you Elefanten aus einer Mücke machen (“make an elephant out of a mosquito” or make a big deal out of nothing) or if you’re bekannt wie ein bunter Hund (“well-known as a colored dog” meaning someone is known by everyone), these idioms bring the wild kingdom into everyday communication.
Da steppt der Bär
Imagine you’re walking down a city street one night when you hear loud music coming from a hangout spot or the club. You look inside to see everyone in there really enjoying the party, throwing around streamers and dancing with each other. You want to bring your friend to the event so you go home and tell them da steppt der Bär or “the bear dances there,” to describe the party as a very fun event.
- Hier steppt der Bär, wenn der DJ anfängt zu spielen. = This party will be rocking when the DJ starts playing.
While you normally wouldn’t want a party with real bears around, this phrase likely stems from the traditional image of performing bears in historical fairs or circuses.
Sich zum Affen machen
If you’ve ever acted foolishly or said something you later realized was quite gauche, then it could be said that you hast dich zum Affen gemacht or “made an ape of yourself.”
- Ich will bei der Präsentation nichts falsch machen, sonst mache ich mich vor allen zum Affen. = I don’t want to mess up during the presentation; otherwise, I’ll make a fool of myself in front of everyone.
Other animal-inspired German idioms
Here are a few of the best German idioms that refer to animals to bring your wise sayings a step closer to nature:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| alles für die Katz’ | everything for the cat | exerting great effort to no avail |
| Die Kuh vom Eis holen. | getting the cow off the ice | solving a tricky problem |
| Ein Vogel haben. | having a bird | going crazy |
| Eine Katze mit Handschuhen fängt keine Mäuse. | A cat with gloves catches no mice. | You won’t get what you want if you’re too cautious or comfortable. |
| Einen Kater haben. | have a tomcat | to be hungover from drinking alcohol |
| Er weiß, wie der Hase läuft. | He knows where the rabbit runs. | He is experienced or well-versed in something. |
| Eulen nach Athen tragen. | bringing owls to Athens | doing something pointless/redundant |
| Hahn im Korb sein. | being the rooster in the basket | being the center of attention, often of the opposite gender |
| Ich glaube, ich spinne. | I believe that I spider. | I feel that I am going crazy. |
| Ich glaube, mein Schwein pfeift. | I believe my pig is whistling. | when you don’t believe something to be true |
| Keinen Bock haben. | having no billy goat | When you’re not interested in something at all. Omit keinen to mean you are interested. |
| Mit den Wölfen heulen. | to howl with the wolves | Blend in with the locals by doing what the locals do. Similar to “when in Rome.” |
16 German idioms about food to spice up your speech
Your dear grandmother’s cooking isn’t just a staple of life—it’s also a rich source of cultural context. Get ready to share in this tasty cultural mixing pot with German idioms inspired by classic German words for traditional foods.
Seinen Senf dazugeben
When you’re in an important business meeting and need to hear an opinion from someone who has been quiet up until now, you can ask them to “add their mustard” to the conversation or seinen Senf dazugeben.
- Wir hätten die perfekte Lösung nicht gefunden, wenn Lisa nicht ihren Senf dazu gegeben hätte. = We wouldn’t have found the perfect solution if Lisa hadn’t added her two cents.
You can also use this idiom sarcastically when someone’s input is not appreciated at all, for example:
- Wir hätten uns längst entschieden, wenn er nicht ständig seinen Senf dazugeben würde. = We would have decided long ago if he didn’t keep giving his input.
Since the first Senf (mustard) factory was built in Germany in 1726, it has been a very popular staple of German condiments. It comes as no surprise that much-needed input from someone is likened to the much-needed Senf on a bratwurst!
Klar wie Kloßbrühe
Once your physics-obsessed friend has finished their impromptu lecture on the inner machinations of quantum physics, you can sarcastically say that the subject is now klar wie Kloßbrühe (clear as dumpling broth) to you. The joke is that Kloßbrühe refers to the broth from traditional German dumplings, which is anything but transparent due to the starch and seasonings of the dish.
- Die neue Steuerregelung ist ja klar wie Kloßbrühe—komplizierter geht’s nicht! = The new tax regulation is as clear as dumpling broth—it couldn’t be more complicated!
Other food-fueled German idioms
See how else food has spiced up the German language with these food-related idioms in the chart below:
| German Idiom | Literal English Translation | Meaning |
| Da frisst ja kein Brot. | It doesn’t eat any bread. | It won’t do any harm, so keep it. |
| Da haben wir den Salat. | There we have the salad. | We’re in a big mess. Can be used as an “I told you so.” |
| Das Gelbe vom Ei sein. | be the yellow of the egg | something that is very good or enjoyable |
| Das Haar in der Suppe suchen. | searching for hair in the soup | searching for issues or fault with something |
| Das ist mir Wurst. | That’s sausage to me. | I don’t care about that. |
| Das Salz in der Suppe sein. | to be the salt of the soup | being the essential part of something |
| Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen. | to act like the offended liver sausage | When someone is easily offended. |
| Die Salamitaktik anwenden. | to use the salami tactic | using a stealthy approach to reveal the truth bit by bit |
| Die Suppe auslöffeln, die ein anderer eingebrockt hat | to serve soup made by someone else | to clean up someone else’s mess |
| Du hast mir die Suppe versalzen. | You’ve oversalted my soup. | You’ve spoiled things for me. |
| Es ist alles in Butter. | Everything is in butter. | I am fine/everything is good. |
| Es ist nicht mein Bier. | It’s not my beer. | That is not my concern. |
| In den sauren Apfel beißen. | to bite the sour apple | enduring an unpleasant situation |
| Um den heißen Brei herumreden. | quibbling around the hot porridge | Not addressing the important point. Similar to “beating around the bush.” |
Now that you’re well-versed in some of the most common idioms that Germans use, try them out with friends or family who will be amused at your new German language skills. And if you’re scheduled to work with a Rosetta Stone tutor, surprise them with a few new idiomatic phrases!
