Welcome to the ultimate glossary of German idioms and their English translations! Here you will find more than 700 idioms used in German-speaking countries, and their English meanings. For a bit of fun, the literal translations are also provided.
Browse the list, or search for a specific idiom alphabetically or using the search function below.
If you’d like to discuss any of the entries or suggest any new (non-offensive) ones to add, feel free to get in touch.
Literal translation: “The pavements are folded up at night.”
Proper English translation: “There’s nothing to do in the evening.”
Literal translation: “Everything has an end. Only a sausage has two.”
Proper English translation: “All good things must come to an end.”
Literal translation: “Everything in the green area.”
Proper English translation: “Everything is fine.”
Literal translation: “Everything in butter!”
Proper English translation: “Everything is hunky-dory!”
Literal translation: “Everything paletti.”
Proper English translation: “All good.”
Literal translation: “Sunshine follows rain.”
Proper English translation: “Every cloud has a silver lining.”
Literal translation: “Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.”
Proper English translation: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.”
Literal translation: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree trunk.”
Proper English translation: “The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”
Literal translation: “That old lyre!”
Proper English translation: “That old chestnut!”
Literal translation: “Still, an old man (woman) isn’t a high-speed train!”
Proper English translation: “Don’t rush me! I’m going as fast as I can.”
Literal translation: to be (completely) out of the little house
Proper English translation: to be beside oneself
Literal translation: (as if) sitting on (glowing) coal
Proper English translation: to be like a cat on a hot tin roof
Literal translation: to go off like Smith’s cat
Proper English translation: to be very quick
Literal translation: tray P
Proper English translation: file 13 (US) / the round file (US)
Literal translation: deflection manoeuvre
Proper English translation: red herring
Literal translation: to wait and drink tea
Proper English translation: to wait and see
Literal translation: to demolish all bridges behind you
Proper English translation: to burn one’s bridges
Literal translation: to put all one’s eggs in one basket
Proper English translation: to put all one’s eggs in one basket
Literal translation: once every jubilee year
Proper English translation: once in a blue moon
Literal translation: to pull out all the registers
Proper English translation: to pull out all the stops
Literal translation: to place everything on one card
Proper English translation: to go for broke
Literal translation: to have everything plumb
Proper English translation: to have everything in order
Literal translation: to shear everything over one comb
Proper English translation: to measure everything by the same yardstick
Literal translation: to serve as a whipping boy
Proper English translation: to act as a scapegoat
Literal translation: took off as a tiger and landed as a bedside rug
Proper English translation: made a strong start but then took a nosedive
Literal translation: to cut old plaits
Proper English translation: to do away with the old
Literal translation: at the arse of the world
Proper English translation: at the back of beyond
Literal translation: to stay on the ball
Proper English translation: to keep the ball rolling / to stay on top of things
Literal translation: to gnaw on the hunger cloth
Proper English translation: to be broke
Literal translation: to sit at the cat table
Proper English translation: to be excluded / to be relegated to the children’s table
Literal translation: to stand at the pillory
Proper English translation: to be in the pillory
Literal translation: to stand at the crossroads
Proper English translation: to be at a crossroads
Literal translation: to be pulled closer by the hair
Proper English translation: to be far-fetched
Literal translation: to sit at the source
Proper English translation: to have connections
Literal translation: to hang from a silk thread
Proper English translation: to hang from a thread
Literal translation: apple of discord
Proper English translation: bone of contention
Literal translation: to also cook with only water
Proper English translation: to be nothing special
Literal translation: to be on axle
Proper English translation: to be on the move
Literal translation: caught on the wrong foot
Proper English translation: caught on the wrong foot
Literal translation: to be on the wooden path
Proper English translation: to be barking up the wrong tree
Literal translation: to stand on the hose
Proper English translation: to not get something
Literal translation: to remain on the carpet
Proper English translation: to have one’s feet on the ground
Literal translation: to come to the dog
Proper English translation: to go to the dogs
Literal translation: to burn on the nails
Proper English translation: to prey on one’s mind
Literal translation: to hit on the plaster
Proper English translation: to paint the town red
Literal translation: to come onto the funnel
Proper English translation: to get the hang of something / to find the solution
Literal translation: to lie on the lazy skin
Proper English translation: to laze around
Literal translation: to go on the barricades
Proper English translation: to protest
Literal translation: to be shoved onto the long bench
Proper English translation: to be put on the back burner
Literal translation: to bang on the kettledrum
Proper English translation: to paint the town red
Literal translation: to fall onto the snout
Proper English translation: to fall flat on one’s face
Literal translation: to press on the tube
Proper English translation: to floor it
Literal translation: to be on wire
Proper English translation: to be on the ball
Literal translation: to be on one wavelength
Proper English translation: to be on the same wavelength
Literal translation: to bite on granite
Proper English translation: to hit a brick wall
Literal translation: to knock on wood
Proper English translation: to knock on wood
Literal translation: to not go on cow skin
Proper English translation: to beggar description
Literal translation: to not reach a green branch
Proper English translation: to not be getting anywhere
Literal translation: to be brushed to riot
Proper English translation: to be spoiling for a fight
Literal translation: to be bedded on roses
Proper English translation: to be a bed of roses
Literal translation: on cobbler’s black horse
Proper English translation: to go by foot
Literal translation: on Devil come out
Proper English translation: come hell or high water
Literal translation: to go on cloth feeling
Proper English translation: to get up-close and personal
Literal translation: to float on cloud seven
Proper English translation: to be on cloud nine
Literal translation: to dance at too many weddings
Proper English translation: to take on too much
Literal translation: to pay attention like a gun dog
Proper English translation: to watch something like a hawk
Literal translation: to fall from all clouds
Proper English translation: to be flabbergasted
Literal translation: to whistle from the last hole
Proper English translation: to be on your last legs
Literal translation: to chatter from the sewing box
Proper English translation: to reveal (private) information / to spill the beans
Literal translation: to fall out of the frame
Proper English translation: to not fit the mould
Literal translation: to be out of the tailor
Proper English translation: to be out of trouble
Literal translation: out of the stirrup
Proper English translation: off the cuff / improvised
Literal translation: to topple out of the slipers
Proper English translation: to pass out / to fall off one’s chair in shock
Literal translation: to drive out of the skin
Proper English translation: to lose it
Literal translation: to dance out of line
Proper English translation: to march to a different tune
Literal translation: to make an elephant out of a mosquito
Proper English translation: to make a mountain out of a molehill
Literal translation: to not make a murderer’s trench out of one’s heart
Proper English translation: to speak frankly
Literal translation: to look like a monkey on a whetstone
Proper English translation: to look ridiculous
Literal translation: to be outside of edge and ribbon
Proper English translation: to be out of control
Literal translation: to stand on the mat at someone’s
Proper English translation: to turn up at someone’s doorstep
Literal translation: the A and O
Proper English translation: the be-all and end-all
Literal translation: to give the monkey sugar
Proper English translation: to get on one’s hobby horse
Literal translation: to pull the arse card
Proper English translation: to draw the short straw
Literal translation: to be a fear rabbit
Proper English translation: to be a scaredy cat
Literal translation: to shut one eye
Proper English translation: to let someone get away with something
Literal translation: to be a boiled slit ear
Proper English translation: to never miss a trick
Literal translation: to drive a different pig through the village
Proper English translation: to make a song and dance about something
Literal translation: to stage a monkey circus
Proper English translation: to kick up a fuss
Literal translation: to pour one onto the lamp
Proper English translation: to drink a lot of alcohol
Literal translation: to muck out the Augean stables
Proper English translation: to clean up a large mess
Literal translation: to hang something on the nail
Proper English translation: to give something up
Literal translation: to hang something on the large bell
Proper English translation: to shout something from the rooftops
Literal translation: to bring something to the person in front
Proper English translation: to spruce something up
Literal translation: to suffer the consequences of something
Proper English translation: to carry the can for something
Literal translation: to get on someone’s ghost
Proper English translation: to get on someone’s nerves
Literal translation: to get on someone’s biscuit
Proper English translation: to get on someone’s nerves
Literal translation: to get (stuck) on someone’s glue
Proper English translation: to fall for someone’s trick
Literal translation: to step on someone’s tie
Proper English translation: to tread on someone’s toes
Literal translation: to get on someone’s alarm clock
Proper English translation: to drive someone up the wall
Literal translation: to feel on someone’s tooth
Proper English translation: to sound someone out
Literal translation: to get closer to someone’s peel
Proper English translation: to badger someone
Literal translation: to help someone to the jumps
Proper English translation: to prompt someone
Literal translation: to climb onto someone’s roof
Proper English translation: to voice one’s complaints (in a heated manner)
Literal translation: to issue someone a rejection
Proper English translation: to turn someone down harshly
Literal translation: to spread something on buttered bread for someone
Proper English translation: to keep reminding someone of something negative
Literal translation: to lead someone around by the nose
Proper English translation: to lead someone up the garden path
Literal translation: to use a curb bit on someone
Proper English translation: to take a hard line with someone
Literal translation: to have someone on the spyglass
Proper English translation: to watch someone like a hawk
Literal translation: to be able to shoot someone to the moon
Proper English translation: to wish someone (you’re upset with) was very far away
Literal translation: to lift someone onto the shield
Proper English translation: to make someone leader
Literal translation: to bring someone onto the palm tree
Proper English translation: to drive someone crazy
Literal translation: to bring someone to trot
Proper English translation: to put a bomb under someone
Literal translation: to keep someone trotting
Proper English translation: to work someone hard
Literal translation: to lay someone on their back
Proper English translation: to con/deceive someone
Literal translation: to feel that your tie has been stepped on
Proper English translation: to be offended
Literal translation: to compare apples to pears
Proper English translation: to compare apples and oranges
Literal translation: “It must be beeping with you!”
Proper English translation: “You must be crazy!”
Literal translation: to have jitters
Proper English translation: to have the jitters
Literal translation: to have been served
Proper English translation: to have had enough
Literal translation: to knock on someone’s bush
Proper English translation: to sound someone out
Literal translation: to make weather good with someone
Proper English translation: to butter someone up
Literal translation: to stand in the chalk with someone
Proper English translation: to owe someone
Literal translation: until in the dolls
Proper English translation: until the small hours
Literal translation: until the does not work anymore
Proper English translation: until one is blue in the face
Literal translation: to be blue
Proper English translation: to be drunk
Literal translation: to be blue-eyed
Proper English translation: to be naïve
Literal translation: to make blue
Proper English translation: to skive off
Literal translation: to sweat blood and water
Proper English translation: to be in a cold sweat
Literal translation: to lead evil in the shield
Proper English translation: to be up to no good
Literal translation: to receive fire letters from all sides
Proper English translation: to be reprimanded left, right and centre
Literal translation: to be wide
Proper English translation: to be drunk
Literal translation: to give letter and seal on it
Proper English translation: to guarantee something
Literal translation: to lie the blue from the sky
Proper English translation: to lie one’s head off
Literal translation: to keep the ball flat
Proper English translation: to play safe
Literal translation: to make the ram the gardener
Proper English translation: to choose the most inappropriate person for a task
Literal translation: to smell the roast
Proper English translation: to smell a rat
Literal translation: to play the insulted liver sausage
Proper English translation: to be a sorehead
Literal translation: to have a board in front of one’s head
Proper English translation: to not get something
Literal translation: to be a book with seven seals
Proper English translation: to be a topic that one knows nothing about
Literal translation: to be rush wisdom
Proper English translation: to be common knowledge
Literal translation: to have bear hunger
Proper English translation: to be very hungry
Literal translation: to shoot a ram
Proper English translation: to screw up
Literal translation: to produce blue smoke for someone
Proper English translation: to pull the wool over someone’s eyes
Literal translation: to tie a bear to someone
Proper English translation: to feed someone a line
Literal translation: to bestow someone a bear service
Proper English translation: to do someone a disservice
Literal translation: “The chemistry is right.”
Proper English translation: “The chemistry is there.”
Literal translation: “The cat is biting itself in the tail there.”
Proper English translation: “That’s/It’s a catch 22.”
Literal translation: “No turret will be falling off your crown.”
Proper English translation: “It won’t hurt you.”
Literal translation: “A lot of water will still run down the River Rhine.”
Proper English translation: “There’s still a long time to go.”
Literal translation: “Then I‘ll eat a broom.”
Proper English translation: “Then I’ll eat my hat.”
Literal translation: “There is Sodom and Gomorrha.”
Proper English translation: “It’s chaos.” (morally corrupt)
Literal translation: “There is cousin economy.”
Proper English translation: “That’s favouritism.”
Literal translation: “The bear is loose there.”
Proper English translation: “There’s something going on.” / “There’s a wild party.”
Literal translation: “I can sing you a song about that!”
Proper English translation: “I can tell you a thing or two about that!”
Literal translation: “No rooster is clucking about that.”
Proper English translation: “Nobody gives two hoots about that.”
Literal translation: “Chickens laugh about that!”
Proper English translation: “You’re joking!”
Literal translation: “The hare lies in the pepper there!”
Proper English translation: “Ah, that’s the problem!”
Literal translation: “The dog lies buried there.”
Proper English translation: “That’s the crux of the matter.”
Literal translation: “My collar is bursting!”
Proper English translation: “That was the last straw!”
Literal translation: “With this you don’t lure a dog from behind the stove.”
Proper English translation: “It’s nothing to write home about.”
Literal translation: “Then good night!”
Proper English translation: “Well that’s just great!” (sarcastic)
Literal translation: “Then it‘s tattoo!”
Proper English translation: “Then it‘s over!”
Literal translation: “You can take poison on that!”
Proper English translation: “You can bet your life on it/that.”
Literal translation: “This goes against the stroke to me.”
Proper English translation: “I don’t like this.”
Literal translation: “That’s hunter’s Latin.”
Proper English translation: “That’s a cock and bull story.”
Literal translation: “That makes you (want to) milk mice!”
Proper English translation: “It’s like getting blood out of a stone!”
Literal translation: “That’s a fat dog!”
Proper English translation: “That’s outrageous!”
Literal translation: “That’s a chapter for its own.”
Proper English translation: “That’s a whole other story.”
Literal translation: “That’s an emergency nail.”
Proper English translation: “That’s a makeshift solution.”
Literal translation: “That’s sausage to me.”
Proper English translation: “I couldn’t care less about that.”
Literal translation: “That didn’t grow on my muck.”
Proper English translation: “That wasn’t my idea.”
Literal translation: “That’s far-fetched.”
Proper English translation: “That’s far-fetched.”
Literal translation: “No pig can read that.”
Proper English translation: “That’s illegible.”
Literal translation: “One may claim this fittingly and rightly.”
Proper English translation: “One may claim this rightly and justly.”
Literal translation: “You can remove that make-up!”
Proper English translation: “You can forget it!”
Literal translation: “You can keep this like the one on the roof.”
Proper English translation: “Do what you want, I don’t care.”
Literal translation: “That doesn’t go in my bag.”
Proper English translation: “That’s out of the question.”
Literal translation: “That seems Spanish to me.”
Proper English translation: “That’s Greek to me.”
Literal translation: “That does not make the cabbage fat either.”
Proper English translation: “It won’t make a difference.”
Literal translation: “That knocks the bottom out of the barrel.”
Proper English translation: “That’s outrageous!”
Literal translation: “These are two pairs of shoes.”
Proper English translation: “They are like chalk and cheese.”
Literal translation: “These are two pairs of boots.”
Proper English translation: “They are like chalk and cheese.”
Literal translation: “That was decided at the green table.”
Proper English translation: Of a sporting event. A result that bears no relation to the events of the contest and that is decided afterwards by a supervising body (e.g. if one team was found to be cheating).
Literal translation: “This (fruit) drop has not been sucked yet.”
Proper English translation: “It’s not over yet.”
Literal translation: “The oat must be pricking you!”
Proper English translation: “Wow, you’re in high spirits!” / “Wow, you are full of beans!”
Literal translation: “The dumbest farmers harvest the biggest potatoes.”
Proper English translation: “Fortune favours fools.”
Literal translation: “The clock has run out.”
Proper English translation: “The ship has sailed.”
Literal translation: “The pope is boxing in a chain shirt there.”
Proper English translation: “There’something going on there.” / “There’s a wild party there.”
Literal translation: “The bear is (tap-)dancing there.”
Proper English translation: “There’s something going on there.” / “There’s a wild party there.”
Literal translation: “You can meet me in the moonlight!”
Proper English translation: “I’m washing my hands of you!”
Literal translation: the same in green
Proper English translation: same difference
Literal translation: standing there like oil tin gods
Proper English translation: to be dumbstruck
Literal translation: to press one’s thumb
Proper English translation: to cross one’s fingers
Literal translation: to act the fat William
Proper English translation: to act the big shot
Literal translation: to drill thick boards
Proper English translation: to graft (work hard)
Literal translation: to have dirt on the stick
Proper English translation: to be a shady character
Literal translation: to make three crosses
Proper English translation: to feel relieved
Literal translation: under and over it
Proper English translation: higgledy-piggledy / frantic / all go
Literal translation: to be as dumb as bean straw
Proper English translation: to be as thick as two short planks
Literal translation: to be through the wind
Proper English translation: to be in a spin
Literal translation: through the bench
Proper English translation: consistently/uniformly
Literal translation: to go through the rags
Proper English translation: to slip through one’s fingers
Literal translation: to be a driller of thin boards
Proper English translation: to be not very clever / a lightweight
Literal translation: to have roof damage
Proper English translation: to have a screw loose
Literal translation: to perform a wire rope act
Proper English translation: to walk a tightrope
Literal translation: to be the thorn in the eye for someone
Proper English translation: to be a thorn in someone’s side
Literal translation: to give someone a think note
Proper English translation: to teach someone a lesson
Literal translation: to pull someone/something through the cocoa
Proper English translation: to take the mickey out of someone/something
Literal translation: “The end of the flag post has not yet been reached.”
Proper English translation: “It’s not over yet.”
Literal translation: “Hell will sooner freeze up!”
Proper English translation: “...and hell will freeze over!” / “When hell freezes over!”
Literal translation: “It has a hook.”
Proper English translation: “There’s a catch.”
Literal translation: “It pulls like pike soup.”
Proper English translation: “There’s a terrible draught.”
Literal translation: the egg of Columbus
Proper English translation: egg of Columbus
Literal translation: to have one on the wafer/waffle
Proper English translation: to be bonkers
Literal translation: to perform an egg dance
Proper English translation: to walk on eggshells
Literal translation: to have one in the tea
Proper English translation: to be tipsy
Literal translation: to tell one from the horse
Proper English translation: to lie
Literal translation: to say ‘go left’ once and ‘go right’ once
Proper English translation: to blow hot and cold
Literal translation: to have something on the box
Proper English translation: to be clever
Literal translation: to have something on the screen
Proper English translation: to have something on one’s radar
Literal translation: to take something on one’s own cap
Proper English translation: to take responsibility for something
Literal translation: to lay something on the high kerb
Proper English translation: to save
Literal translation: to bring something (on)to the conference table
Proper English translation: to broach something
Literal translation: to shake something out of one’s sleeve
Proper English translation: to do something off the cuff
Literal translation: to have eaten something up
Proper English translation: to have been up to no good
Literal translation: something burns under someone’s nails
Proper English translation: to be important to / pressing for someone
Literal translation: to say something through the flower
Proper English translation: to break something to someone gently
Literal translation: to receive something in the wrong throat
Proper English translation: to take something the wrong way
Literal translation: to take something in the deal
Proper English translation: to put up with something
Literal translation: to break something over the knee
Proper English translation: to rush something
Literal translation: to sweep something under the carpet
Proper English translation: to sweep something under the carpet
Literal translation: to praise something/someone over the green clover
Proper English translation: to go overboard with singing something’s/someone’s praises
Literal translation: to carry owls to Athens
Proper English translation: to carry coal to Newcastle
Literal translation: to repair something on someone’s stuff
Proper English translation: to criticise someone about small things
Literal translation: to tie something to someone’s nose
Proper English translation: to let someone in on something
Literal translation: to build oneself a donkey bridge
Proper English translation: to create a mnemonic
Literal translation: to tip one behind the bandage
Proper English translation: to knock back a drink
Literal translation: to suck something out of one’s fingers
Proper English translation: to make something up quickly
Literal translation: “My film tore.”
Proper English translation: “My mind went blank.”
Literal translation: “Fish (always) stinks from the head.”
Proper English translation: Responsibility always lies with the decision maker.
Literal translation: “It’s five to twelve.”
Proper English translation: “It’s high time.”
Literal translation: “That’s Bohemian villages for me.”
Proper English translation: “It’s all Greek to me.”
Literal translation: to have slaughtered the wrong pig
Proper English translation: to have made the wrong decision
Literal translation: to lose the thread
Proper English translation: to lose one’s train of thought
Literal translation: to make the fly
Proper English translation: to run off / disappear quickly
Literal translation: to throw the shotgun into the corn
Proper English translation: to throw in the towel
Literal translation: to hear the fleas cough
Proper English translation: to hear something that is not there / to be imagining something / to have excellent hearing (less common)
Literal translation: to be a rock in the breakers
Proper English translation: to be a bastion of calm
Literal translation: to shoot a ticket
Proper English translation: to miss the target
Literal translation: to be a bottle
Proper English translation: to be a numpty
Literal translation: to have a frog in the throat
Proper English translation: to have a frog in one’s throat
Literal translation: to make the court to a lady
Proper English translation: to court a lady
Literal translation: to have it fist-thick behind the ears
Proper English translation: to be up to no good
Literal translation: to take something for cash coin
Proper English translation: to take something at face value
Literal translation: to confess colour
Proper English translation: to come clean
Literal translation: to open a barrel
Proper English translation: to kick up a stink
Literal translation: to give heel money
Proper English translation: to take to one’s heels
Literal translation: to sit tight in the saddle
Proper English translation: to be firmly established / to be in a safe position
Literal translation: to make excuses
Proper English translation: to make excuses / to act up
Literal translation: to be fixed and finished
Proper English translation: to be shattered
Literal translation: to have lint in your head
Proper English translation: to have crazy ideas
Literal translation: to speak Gothic type
Proper English translation: to not mince one’s words
Literal translation: naughty like Oscar
Proper English translation: bold as brass
Literal translation: to talk freely from the liver
Proper English translation: to say it how it is
Literal translation: to freeze like a tailor
Proper English translation: to be freezing
Literal translation: to celebrate happy resurrection
Proper English translation: to rear one’s ugly head again
Literal translation: to let five be even
Proper English translation: to accept that things are not perfect
Literal translation: for an apple and an egg
Proper English translation: for almost nothing
Literal translation: to be for the cat
Proper English translation: to be in vain
Literal translation: to make the monkey for someone
Proper English translation: to play the fool/clown for someone
Literal translation: to put one’s hand in the fire for someone
Proper English translation: to give someone the shirt off one’s back
Literal translation: to jump into the gap for someone
Proper English translation: to step into the breach for someone
Literal translation: to give one’s last shirt for someone
Proper English translation: to give someone the shirt off one’s back
Literal translation: gone is gone
Proper English translation: What’s gone is gone.
Literal translation: to put a flea in someone’s ear
Proper English translation: to instill a thought/wish that cannot be fulfilled into someone
Literal translation: “The groschen has fallen.”
Proper English translation: “The penny has dropped.”
Literal translation: “One doesn’t look a gift horse in the mouth.”
Proper English translation: “Don’t look a gift a horse in the mouth.”
Literal translation: “Go where the pepper grows!”
Proper English translation: “Get lost!”
Literal translation: “Give butter with the fish!”
Proper English translation: “Get to the point!”
Literal translation: to hear the grass grow
Proper English translation: to be very sensitive to upcoming problems/developments
Literal translation: to play the big Zampano
Proper English translation: to show off
Literal translation: to have a memory like an elephant
Proper English translation: to have a memory like an elephant
Literal translation: to be a stinginess collar
Proper English translation: to be a tightwad
Literal translation: to be a lucky mushroom
Proper English translation: to be a lucky devil
Literal translation: to be a reach into the loo
Proper English translation: to be a very bad choice
Literal translation: a curtain sermon
Proper English translation: a telling-off
Literal translation: to seize an opportunity by the hair
Proper English translation: to grab an opportunity with both hands
Literal translation: to have a green thumb
Proper English translation: to have green fingers
Literal translation: to fight against windmills
Proper English translation: to tilt at windmills
Literal translation: to strike money on the head
Proper English translation: to throw money around
Literal translation: to happily fish in muddy water
Proper English translation: to find your way around in new/difficult territory
Literal translation: to stand with the rifle next to your foot
Proper English translation: to be ready for action
Literal translation: to spit poison and bile
Proper English translation: to be fuming
Literal translation: to hold large pieces on someone
Proper English translation: to think the world of someone
Literal translation: to have porridge in one’s head
Proper English translation: to be intelligent
Literal translation: to be well-studded in something
Proper English translation: to be well-versed in something
Literal translation: “Hops and malt are lost with him.”
Proper English translation: “He is a dead loss.”
Literal translation: “It is highest railway.”
Proper English translation: “It’s high time.”
Literal translation: “Neck and leg fracture!”
Proper English translation: “Break a leg!”
Literal translation: “Come in, if you’re not a tailor!”
Proper English translation: “Come in!”
Literal translation: “There is thick air here.”
Proper English translation: “Trouble’s brewing.”
Literal translation: “Whoa the forest fairy!”
Proper English translation: “Would you believe it…?!”
Literal translation: “Wooden eye, be alert!”
Proper English translation: “Keep your eyes peeled!”
Literal translation: to throw in the towel
Proper English translation: to throw in the towel
Literal translation: to have/hold the exercise book in the hand
Proper English translation: to be at the helm / to be behind the wheel / to be in control
Literal translation: to not get the throat full
Proper English translation: to be insatiable, to always want more
Literal translation: to be the rooster in the basket
Proper English translation: to be the only rooster in the hen house
Literal translation: to be the pike in the carp pond
Proper English translation: to be a troublemaker
Literal translation: to wear the trousers
Proper English translation: to wear the trousers
Literal translation: to lie someone’s back full
Proper English translation: to tell a pack of lies
Literal translation: to be a John Steam in all alleyways
Proper English translation: to be a jack of all trades
Literal translation: one hand washes the other
Proper English translation: scratch someone’s back, and they’ll scratch yours
Literal translation: to do something neck over head
Proper English translation: to do something on the spur of the moment
Literal translation: to write something behind the ears
Proper English translation: to make sure that one does not forget something
Literal translation: to have hair on one’s teeth
Proper English translation: to be confrontational/bossy
Literal translation: to gamble away house and yard
Proper English translation: to gamble away everything you have
Literal translation: to live like vandals
Proper English translation: to act like vandals
Literal translation: to howl like a castle dog
Proper English translation: to cry one’s eyes out
Literal translation: today go, tomorrow stop
Proper English translation: to blow hot then cold
Literal translation: to live behind the moon
Proper English translation: to have been living under a rock
Literal translation: behind Swedish curtains
Proper English translation: behind bars
Literal translation: to come behind like the old shrovetide
Proper English translation: to be late to the party
Literal translation: Hinz and Kunz (German names)
Proper English translation: every Tom, Dick and Harry
Literal translation: to have floods
Proper English translation: to be wearing ankle swingers
Literal translation: Holland in need
Proper English translation: in great difficulties
Literal translation: to have bumble bees in one’s backside
Proper English translation: to have ants in one’s pants
Literal translation: to end someone’s trade
Proper English translation: to put a stop to someone’s game / to catch a criminal
Literal translation: to stretch the sheep legs long for someone
Proper English translation: to give someone a dressing-down
Literal translation: to wish someone a hand’s width of water under the keel
Proper English translation: to wish someone luck
Literal translation: to smear honey around someone’s mouth
Proper English translation: to butter someone up
Literal translation: to (still) have a chicken to pluck with someone
Proper English translation: to (still) have a bone to pick with someone
Literal translation: to wear one’s heart on the tongue
Proper English translation: to wear one’s heart on one’s sleeve
Literal translation: to wash one’s hands in innocence
Proper English translation: to wash one’s hands of responsibility for something
Literal translation: “I think my pig is whistling.”
Proper English translation: “I don’t believe it!”
Literal translation: “The monkey is delousing me!”
Proper English translation: “Well I never!”
Literal translation: “I only understand train station.”
Proper English translation: “It’s all Greek to me.”
Literal translation: “Always with the peace!”
Proper English translation: “Cool it!”
Literal translation: to overcome your inner pig dog
Proper English translation: to overcome your weaker self
Literal translation: to have something in grip
Proper English translation: to have something down pat / to be in control of something
Literal translation: to jump in the triangle
Proper English translation: to be hopping mad
Literal translation: to be in the bucket
Proper English translation: to be broken/finished
Literal translation: to be in the wrong film
Proper English translation: to not believe it
Literal translation: to be in the crossfire
Proper English translation: to be under fire from all sides
Literal translation: to stand in the spotlight
Proper English translation: to be in the limelight
Literal translation: to be in seventh heaven
Proper English translation: to be in seventh heaven
Literal translation: in wad and bow
Proper English translation: lock, stock and barrel / well and truly
Literal translation: to be in distress
Proper English translation: to be in difficulties
Literal translation: to punch into the sack
Proper English translation: to quit
Literal translation: to bite into the sour apple
Proper English translation: to bite the bullet
Literal translation: to sit in the jam
Proper English translation: to be in a pickle
Literal translation: to sit in the ink
Proper English translation: to be up the creek without a paddle
Literal translation: to disappear in the trap
Proper English translation: to vanish from the scene
Literal translation: to be dyed in the wool
Proper English translation: to be dyed in the wool
Literal translation: to be in a double-mill
Proper English translation: to be caught between a rock and a hard place
Literal translation: to go into the rushes
Proper English translation: to fall apart
Literal translation: to hack into the same notch
Proper English translation: to be in agreement
Literal translation: to go into the trousers
Proper English translation: to go wrong
Literal translation: to come into the breadth
Proper English translation: to get in the way
Literal translation: to look in the tube
Proper English translation: to come away empty-handed
Literal translation: to send into the desert
Proper English translation: to send packing / to give the boot
Literal translation: to reach into a wasp’s nest
Proper English translation: to open a can of worms
Literal translation: at a monkey’s speed
Proper English translation: like the clappers
Literal translation: in a night and fog operation
Proper English translation: in a cloak-and-dagger operation
Literal translation: to step in someone’s footsteps
Proper English translation: to follow in someone’s footsteps
Literal translation: to go into bag and ashes
Proper English translation: to wear sackcloth and ashes
Literal translation: in swish and bluster
Proper English translation: in the lap of luxury
Literal translation: to be in shot
Proper English translation: to be in good nick
Literal translation: to enter the Devil’s kitchen
Proper English translation: to get into hot water
Literal translation: to be in dry cloths
Proper English translation: to be a done deal
Literal translation: to hunt into the ram’s horns
Proper English translation: to upset/unsettle/dishearten
Literal translation: to laugh into one’s little fist
Proper English translation: to secretly feel Schadenfreude (a sense of joy at someone else’s misfortune)
Literal translation: to step into the fat saucer
Proper English translation: to put one’s foot in it
Literal translation: to bite into the grass
Proper English translation: to kick the bucket
Literal translation: to be amongst the rear reserve troop (military)
Proper English translation: to fall behind / to come to be at a disadvantage
Literal translation: to be thrown into cold water
Proper English translation: to be thrown in at the deep end
Literal translation: to run into the open knife
Proper English translation: to walk right into a trap
Literal translation: to hit into the black
Proper English translation: to be spot on
Literal translation: to push something into someone's shoes
Proper English translation: to pass the buck to someone
Literal translation: to drive into someone’s parade
Proper English translation: to rain on someone’s parade
Literal translation: to spit in someone’s soup
Proper English translation: to rain on someone’s parade
Literal translation: to leave someone standing in the rain
Proper English translation: to leave someone in the lurch
Literal translation: to leave someone in the sting/bite/prick/stab
Proper English translation: to leave someone in the lurch / to leave someone high and dry
Literal translation: to take someone in the mangle
Proper English translation: to put someone through the wringer
Literal translation: to keep someone/something in check
Proper English translation: to keep someone/something in check
Literal translation: to push (forcefully) on the yoke
Proper English translation: to buckle down
Literal translation: to lie into one’s (own) pocket
Proper English translation: to kid oneself
Literal translation: to dare going into the lion’s den
Proper English translation: to beard the lion in his den
Literal translation: to throw oneself in peel/shell
Proper English translation: to get suited and booted
Literal translation: “Every man is the blacksmith of his fortune.”
Proper English translation: “You create your own destiny.”
Literal translation: “Now it’s all about the sausage.”
Proper English translation: “It’s all or nothing.”
Literal translation: “Now we have the salad!”
Proper English translation: “Now we’re in a pickle!”
Literal translation: “Now the child has fallen into the well.”
Proper English translation: “It’s too late.”
Literal translation: “It is now scythe.”
Proper English translation: “That’s enough!”
Literal translation: “Half length now!”
Proper English translation: “Come off it!” / “Hang on a minute!”
Literal translation: whinge cloth
Proper English translation: whinger
Literal translation: jacket like trousers
Proper English translation: same difference
Literal translation: to place every word on the gold scales
Proper English translation: to take something literally
Literal translation: “The cat does not stop catching mice.”
Proper English translation: “A leopard can’t change its spots.”
Literal translation: “Lid closed, monkey dead.”
Proper English translation: “End of story.”
Literal translation: “Knot burst.”
Proper English translation: “The penny has dropped.” / “Problem solved.”
Literal translation: to throw the baby out with the bath
Proper English translation: to throw the baby out with the bathwater
Literal translation: to pull the shorter one
Proper English translation: to draw the short straw
Literal translation: to let the cat out of the bag
Proper English translation: to let the cat out of the bag
Literal translation: to buy the cat in the bag
Proper English translation: to buy a pig in a poke
Literal translation: to leave the church in the village
Proper English translation: to not get carried away
Literal translation: to hold the lid
Proper English translation: to shut up
Literal translation: to get the cow off the ice
Proper English translation: to resolve a problematic situation
Literal translation: to be a child head
Proper English translation: to be immature
Literal translation: to have to swallow a toad
Proper English translation: to be a bitter pill to swallow (for someone)
Literal translation: to have a tomcat
Proper English translation: to be hung-over
Literal translation: to be given a basket
Proper English translation: to be rejected
Literal translation: to fetch the chestnuts from the fire for someone
Proper English translation: to pull someone’s chestnuts out of the fire
Literal translation: to wash someone’s head
Proper English translation: to give someone a piece of one’s mind
Literal translation: not to take a sheet of paper in front of one’s mouth
Proper English translation: to not mince one’s words
Literal translation: to not be a blank sheet
Proper English translation: to have a reputation
Literal translation: to not be able to cloud a bit of water
Proper English translation: butter wouldn’t melt (in one’s mouth)
Literal translation: hasn’t drunk target water
Proper English translation: can’t hit the broad side of a barn
Literal translation: no sugar lick
Proper English translation: no walk in the park
Literal translation: to not know any relatives
Proper English translation: to ruthlessly pursue one’s goals
Literal translation: to not have a pale glimmer
Proper English translation: to not have the foggiest idea
Literal translation: to not be worth a heller
Proper English translation: to not be worth a penny
Literal translation: to not give a chanterelle on something
Proper English translation: to not give a damn about something
Literal translation: to have to bake small rolls
Proper English translation: to not set one’s sights so high after a setback
Literal translation: to have a dumpling in one’s throat
Proper English translation: to have a lump in one’s throat
Literal translation: bang and fall
Proper English translation: suddenly
Literal translation: to have cabbage steam
Proper English translation: to be starving
Literal translation: to cry crocodile tears
Proper English translation: to shed crocodile tears
Literal translation: misery bacon
Proper English translation: excess weight gained from emotional overeating
Literal translation: to push one’s head through
Proper English translation: to have/get one’s way
Literal translation: to tie a block to one’s leg
Proper English translation: to take on a responsibility/obligation that stops you doing other things or slows you down
Literal translation: “The last shirt has no pockets.”
Proper English translation: “You can’t take it with you when you die.”
Literal translation: to hand in the spoon
Proper English translation: to bite the dust
Literal translation: to sharpen the rabbit ears
Proper English translation: to be all ears
Literal translation: to have a long line
Proper English translation: to be slow on the uptake
Literal translation: to have a body in the basement
Proper English translation: to have a skeleton in the closet
Literal translation: to break a lance for someone
Proper English translation: to stand up for someone/something
Literal translation: to give someone their certificate of discharge
Proper English translation: (romantically) to dump someone / (at work) to give someone their marching orders
Literal translation: to put a louse in someone’s fur
Proper English translation: to cause problems for someone
Literal translation: to win land
Proper English translation: to run for the hills
Literal translation: to be over all mountains long ago
Proper English translation: to be long gone
Literal translation: louse run over the liver
Proper English translation: to be peeved
Literal translation: to read Levites
Proper English translation: to tell off
Literal translation: to smell a fuse
Proper English translation: to smell a rat
Literal translation: to place one’s light under the bushel
Proper English translation: to hide one’s light under a bushel
Literal translation: “One has already seen horses vomit.”
Proper English translation: “You never know, anything can happen.”
Literal translation: “My dear Scholli!”
Proper English translation: “My oh my!”
Literal translation: “My dear swan!”
Proper English translation: “Blimey!”
Literal translation: “My name is hare; I don’t know anything.”
Proper English translation: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” / “It’s got nothing to do with me.”
Literal translation: “A stone has fallen from my heart.”
Proper English translation: “That’s a weight off my mind.”
Literal translation: “A light is going on with me!”
Proper English translation: “Now I get it!”
Literal translation: “The shirt is closer to me than the skirt.”
Proper English translation: “My own concerns are more important to me.”
Literal translation: “My hairs were standing to the mountains.”
Proper English translation: “My hair stood on end.”
Literal translation: “It‘s not good to eat cherries with her.”
Proper English translation: “She‘s not an easy person to deal with.”
Literal translation: “Morning hour has gold in the mouth.”
Proper English translation: “The early bird catches the worm.”
Literal translation: to put the coat of saying nothing over something
Proper English translation: to cast/draw a veil (of silence) over something
Literal translation: to be a morning grouch
Proper English translation: to not be a morning person
Literal translation: to see something with one laughing and one crying eye
Proper English translation: to have mixed feelings about something
Literal translation: to want to wee with the big dogs
Proper English translation: to want to play with the big boys
Literal translation: to blow the march to someone
Proper English translation: to haul someone over the coals
Literal translation: to be printer’s waste
Proper English translation: to be a quick fix
Literal translation: to keep common toadflax for sale
Proper English translation: to sit on one’s hands
Literal translation: to be as dead as a mouse
Proper English translation: to be as dead as a doornail
Literal translation: more bad than right
Proper English translation: not particularly good
Literal translation: my second self
Proper English translation: my other self
Literal translation: milk girl calculation
Proper English translation: a calculation that does not add up because it ignores important components / a naïve assessment of a situation
Literal translation: with alas and noise
Proper English translation: by the skin of one’s teeth
Literal translation: to be washed with every water
Proper English translation: to know every trick in the book
Literal translation: to watch with Argus eyes
Proper English translation: to watch like a hawk
Literal translation: to have got up on the wrong foot
Proper English translation: to have gotten out of the wrong side of the bed
Literal translation: to be powdered with a peg bag
Proper English translation: to be crazy
Literal translation: to howl with the wolves
Proper English translation: to opportunistically follow the crowd against one’s better judgement
Literal translation: to fall into the house with the door
Proper English translation: to blurt something out
Literal translation: with a monkey tooth
Proper English translation: at breakneck speed
Literal translation: to keep something behind the bush
Proper English translation: to keep something on the down low
Literal translation: to treat something/someone like a dead body
Proper English translation: to abuse/mistreat something/someone
Literal translation: to play with marked cards
Proper English translation: to cheat
Literal translation: to complete a task with hanging and choking
Proper English translation: to manage something by the skin of your teeth
Literal translation: to fight with hard bandages
Proper English translation: to pull no punches
Literal translation: to go through thick and thin with someone
Proper English translation: to go through thick and thin with someone
Literal translation: to be able to steal horses with someone
Proper English translation: someone is 100% reliable
Literal translation: to shoot at sparrows with cannons
Proper English translation: to take a sledgehammer to crack a nut
Literal translation: to fight with an open visor
Proper English translation: to let the opponent know of one’s intentions
Literal translation: to play with open cards
Proper English translation: to have no hidden agenda
Literal translation: to be at the end of one’s Latin
Proper English translation: to be stumped
Literal translation: to trade lemons
Proper English translation: to be unsuccessful
Literal translation: to burn one’s mouth
Proper English translation: to put one’s foot in one’s mouth
Literal translation: to decorate oneself with feathers that are not yours
Proper English translation: to adorn oneself with borrowed plumes
Literal translation: “The name is programme.”
Proper English translation: “The name says it all.”
Literal translation: “The two are not green to each other.”
Proper English translation: “Those two don’t get on.”
Literal translation: “Nightingale, I hear you galumph.”
Proper English translation: “I can tell which way the wind is blowing.”
Literal translation: “Nothing for bad.”
Proper English translation: “No hard feelings.”
Literal translation: “It’s not yet the evening of all days.”
Proper English translation: “It’s not over until the fat lady sings.”
Literal translation: to be 0815
Proper English translation: to be vanilla
Literal translation: to hit the nail on the head
Proper English translation: to hit the nail on the head
Literal translation: to pass the nail test
Proper English translation: to pass the acid test
Literal translation: to be a night owl
Proper English translation: to be a night owl
Literal translation: to be a snacking cat
Proper English translation: to have a sweet tooth
Literal translation: to not be able to pass someone the water
Proper English translation: to have nothing on someone
Literal translation: to not be green to someone
Proper English translation: to be unable to stand someone
Literal translation: to concern someone nothing
Proper English translation: to be none of someone’s business
Literal translation: to go to Canossa
Proper English translation: to go to Canossa
Literal translation: to dance to someone’s pipe
Proper English translation: to be at someone’s beck and call
Literal translation: according to diagram F
Proper English translation: to do something out of habit without questioning whether it is the best way
Literal translation: according to strand and thread
Proper English translation: hook, line and sinker
Literal translation: to make nails with heads
Proper English translation: to not do things by halves
Literal translation: to be built close to the water
Proper English translation: to weep easily / to be emotional
Literal translation: to be/stand beside the cap
Proper English translation: to be confused / not concentrated
Literal translation: to not have all on the Christmas tree
Proper English translation: to not be in one’s right mind
Literal translation: to not have fallen onto the mouth
Proper English translation: to have a quick tongue
Literal translation: to not be the yellow of the egg
Proper English translation: to not be perfect
Literal translation: to not be the bank of England
Proper English translation: to not be made of money
Literal translation: not quite kosher
Proper English translation: not quite kosher
Literal translation: to be missing cups from the cupboard
Proper English translation: to have lost one’s marbles
Literal translation: to not be without
Proper English translation: to be quite something
Literal translation: to not be more papal than the Pope
Proper English translation: to not be holier than the Pope
Literal translation: to not be made of cardboard
Proper English translation: not to be sneezed at
Literal translation: niggle nail new
Proper English translation: brand spanking new
Literal translation: to have another iron in the fire
Proper English translation: to have another / a second string to one’s bow
Literal translation: to keep one’s ears stiff
Proper English translation: to stay strong / to keep one’s chin up
Literal translation: to receive headwater
Proper English translation: to get the upper hand
Literal translation: open like a barn door
Proper English translation: to be wide open / to be free from obstacles
Literal translation: to talk without full stop and comma
Proper English translation: to talk the hind legs off a donkey
Literal translation: to be old sweets
Proper English translation: to be old hat
Literal translation: to pour oil into the fire
Proper English translation: to add fuel to the fire
Literal translation: “Vermin fight, vermin get along.”
Proper English translation: “There’s no honour among thieves.”
Literal translation: to bridle the horse from behind
Proper English translation: to put the cart before the horse / to do things back to front
Literal translation: to let the dolls dance
Proper English translation: to have a hell of a party
Literal translation: to be a paragraph rider
Proper English translation: to be a jobsworth
Literal translation: to be a bad luck bird
Proper English translation: to have rotten luck
Literal translation: to be a chatter bag
Proper English translation: to be a chatterbox
Literal translation: to issue a Persil certificate
Proper English translation: to whitewash someone’s (dubious) history
Literal translation: to have a horse foot
Proper English translation: to have a catch
Literal translation: to eke out a pyrrhic victory
Proper English translation: to win a pyrrhic victory
Literal translation: to offer someone paroli
Proper English translation: to stand up to someone
Literal translation: to throw pearls before swine
Proper English translation: to waste good things on people that won’t appreciate them
Literal translation: pi times thumb
Proper English translation: approximately / more or less
Literal translation: to make ruin
Proper English translation: to go bust
Literal translation: to be punctual like brick layers
Proper English translation: to be right on time
Literal translation: to feel as happy as a poodle
Proper English translation: to feel on top of the world
Literal translation: to search for the square of the circle
Proper English translation: to square the circle
Literal translation: to have the ordeal of choice
Proper English translation: to be spoilt for choice
Literal translation: to get the receipt
Proper English translation: to get one’s just desserts
Literal translation: to be a quarter(ly) drinker
Proper English translation: to be a periodic alcoholic
Literal translation: to have mercury in one’s backside
Proper English translation: to have ants in one’s pants
Literal translation: to be even
Proper English translation: to be square/even
Literal translation: “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.”
Proper English translation: “The rats are leaving the sinking ship.”
Literal translation: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Proper English translation: “Rome wasn’t built in a day.”
Literal translation: “Why don’t you slide down my back?”
Proper English translation: “Sod off!”
Literal translation: to be the saving straw
Proper English translation: to be the last, slim chance of rescue
Literal translation: to view the radishes from below
Proper English translation: to be pushing up the daisies
Literal translation: to make the bill without the host/landlord
Proper English translation: to reckon without one’s host
Literal translation: to have a wheel off
Proper English translation: to have a screw loose
Literal translation: to push a calm ball
Proper English translation: to have a cushy number / to not work too hard
Literal translation: to make a disproportionately high profit
Proper English translation: to make a killing
Literal translation: someone’s head is smoking
Proper English translation: someone’s brain is in overdrive
Literal translation: to pour pure wine
Proper English translation: to be straight with someone
Literal translation: “I don’t have to put on that shoe.”
Proper English translation: “I don’t have to take the blame for that.”
Literal translation: “A sparrow in the hand is better than a pigeon on the roof.”
Proper English translation: “A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.”
Literal translation: “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.”
Proper English translation: “One swallow doesn’t make a summer.”
Literal translation: “Don’t be a frog!”
Proper English translation: “Go for it!” / “Don’t chicken out!”
Literal translation: “Such a monkey theatre!”
Proper English translation: “What a palaver!”
Literal translation: “Such a swinishness!”
Proper English translation: “What a mess!”
Literal translation: “Constant dripping hollows the stone.”
Proper English translation: “Constant dripping wears the stone.”
Literal translation: “Calm waters are deep.”
Proper English translation: “Calm waters run deep.” / “Beware the quiet ones.”
Literal translation: to have a stone in the board with someone
Proper English translation: to be in someone’s good books
Literal translation: to be the black sheep
Proper English translation: to be the black sheep
Literal translation: to have the jester in your neck
Proper English translation: to be mischievous
Literal translation: to not have heard the shot
Proper English translation: to be behind the times
Literal translation: to be given the black Peter
Proper English translation: to be blamed for something you didn’t do
Literal translation: to turn the skewer around
Proper English translation: to turn the table on someone
Literal translation: to break the stick over someone
Proper English translation: to judge someone
Literal translation: to act the dying swan
Proper English translation: to pretend to be hurt, to exaggerate injury/pain
Literal translation: the jumping point
Proper English translation: the crux of the matter
Literal translation: to adopt the salami tactic
Proper English translation: to do something in tiny steps
Literal translation: to let the pig out
Proper English translation: to party hard
Literal translation: to have the muzzle full
Proper English translation: to be fed up
Literal translation: to have to spoon out the soup
Proper English translation: to have to face the music
Literal translation: to spoon out the soup brewed by someone else
Proper English translation: to clean up someone else’s mess
Literal translation: to spoon out the soup one brewed for oneself
Proper English translation: to have made one’s bed and have to lie in it
Literal translation: to be a shadow of oneself
Proper English translation: to be a shadow of one’s former self
Literal translation: to be a joke biscuit
Proper English translation: to be a joker
Literal translation: to be a clever dairy farmer
Proper English translation: to be a clever clogs
Literal translation: to be a shot in the oven
Proper English translation: to go down like a lead balloon
Literal translation: to be a fun bird
Proper English translation: to be a jokester
Literal translation: to have a sparrow brain
Proper English translation: to be a bird brain
Literal translation: to be a straw widower/widow
Proper English translation: to be a grass widower/widow
Literal translation: a storm in the water glass
Proper English translation: a storm in a teacup
Literal translation: to put a scoop on top
Proper English translation: to take something up a notch
Literal translation: to take a setback
Proper English translation: to suffer a setback/defeat
Literal translation: to be a schnapps thrush
Proper English translation: to be a boozer
Literal translation: to have a screw loose
Proper English translation: to have a screw loose
Literal translation: to pull a final stroke under something
Proper English translation: to draw a line under something
Literal translation: to make a wrong cut (in wood)
Proper English translation: to drop a brick
Literal translation: to fire a shot into the blue
Proper English translation: to fire a shot in the dark
Literal translation: to break an argument from the fence
Proper English translation: to pick a fight
Literal translation: to play the straw man for someone
Proper English translation: to be someone’s stooge
Literal translation: to offer someone your forehead
Proper English translation: to stand up to someone
Literal translation: to put a strike through someone’s calculation
Proper English translation: to thwart someone’s plans
Literal translation: to tie a rope out of something for someone
Proper English translation: to use something against somebody
Literal translation: to sprinkle sand in someone’s eyes
Proper English translation: to pull wool over someone’s eyes
Literal translation: to give someone (something) sour
Proper English translation: to let someone have it
Literal translation: to place stumbling blocks in the path for someone
Proper English translation: to hinder someone’s progress
Literal translation: to be a spider enemy with someone
Proper English translation: to be someone’s worst enemy
Literal translation: to be crookedly wound
Proper English translation: to be very much mistaken / to be on the wrong track
Literal translation: to sleep like a groundhog
Proper English translation: to sleep like a log
Literal translation: to have butterflies in the stomach
Proper English translation: to have butterflies in one’s stomach
Literal translation: to stand lubricant
Proper English translation: to be on watch
Literal translation: yesterday’s snow
Proper English translation: old news
Literal translation: to see black for someone/something
Proper English translation: to be pessimistic about someone’s/something’s future
Literal translation: to have pig
Proper English translation: to have a stroke of luck
Literal translation: to spin sailor’s thread
Proper English translation: to tell a tall tale
Literal translation: to see one’s pelts float away
Proper English translation: to see one’s hopes fade away
Literal translation: to know one’s Pappenheims
Proper English translation: to know what to expect from someone
Literal translation: to bring one’s lambs into the dry
Proper English translation: to feather one’s nest
Literal translation: to add one’s mustard
Proper English translation: to give one’s two pennies worth / to add one’s two cents
Literal translation: champagne or soda
Proper English translation: all or nothing
Literal translation: to pull one’s waist belt
Proper English translation: to pull oneself together
Literal translation: to grab one’s own nose
Proper English translation: to take a look in the mirror
Literal translation: to make oneself on the socks
Proper English translation: to take off (leave in a hurry)
Literal translation: to make oneself out of the dust
Proper English translation: to slip away / to sneak off
Literal translation: to knock one’s horns off
Proper English translation: to sow one’s wild oats
Literal translation: to break bread for oneself
Proper English translation: to make a rod for one’s own back
Literal translation: to bite into something and not let go
Proper English translation: to fasten onto something / to become deeply absorbed in something
Literal translation: to not let the butter be taken from your bread
Proper English translation: to stick up for yourself
Literal translation: to behave like an elephant in a china shop
Proper English translation: to behave like a bull in a china shop
Literal translation: to be as happy as a snow king / wren
Proper English translation: to be as merry as a lark
Literal translation: fun brake
Proper English translation: party pooper
Literal translation: to run the spit rods
Proper English translation: to run the gauntlet
Literal translation: to stand point on pommel
Proper English translation: to be on a knife-edge
Literal translation: strong tobacco
Proper English translation: strong stuff
Literal translation: to whirl up dust
Proper English translation: to cause a stir
Literal translation: to be stubborn like a donkey
Proper English translation: to be as stubborn as a mule