Have you ever heard someone say they have “tomatoes on their eyes” in German? Or that someone “does not have all the cups in the cupboard”? (What?!). Welcome to the colorful world of German idioms — quirky, vivid, and absolutely essential to know if you want to understand native speakers and sound more like one.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 27 of the most common (some are really funny) German idioms that every learner should know. I even surveyed my German partner and some colleagues to find out their favorite idioms!
These are expressions you’ll hear in everyday conversations, shows, and even professional settings. Oh yes, my German managers really love citing idioms in our meetings. Whether you’re a beginner looking to spice up your vocabulary or an intermediate learner wanting to sound more fluent, this list is for you.
✌️Read tiếng Việt version: 27 Thành Ngữ Thông Dụng (và Buồn Cười) trong Tiếng Đức Bạn Cần Biết
🧠 Why Learn German Idioms?
First, what is an idiom? An idiom is a group of words or phrase that has a meaning different from the literal translation. If you are a native English speakers, you probably know instantly what I meant by idioms.
If you are unfamiliar to idioms, let us take an example of a favorite English idiom of mine: “it’s raining cats and dogs”. This expression does not mean animals are falling from the sky — it just means it’s raining very heavily.
In German, idioms often don’t make sense if you translate them word-for-word — but they’re commonly used by native speakers. Recognizing idioms will help you:
- Understand real-life conversations more easily
- Avoid confusion from strange literal meanings
- Sound more fluent and culturally aware
- Add humor, emotion, and style to your speech
- Enjoy learning the language in a hilarious fashion
You can often recognize idioms by their unusual imagery (like tomatoes on your eyes!) or when the literal meaning doesn’t quite fit the situation. But can you guess or understand their true underlying meanings?
Let’s dive into these 27 must-know expressions and test yourself.
🗣️ 27 Must-Know German Idioms
I categorize a group of idioms that involve a human body part to kick start. TIP: Visualize your body acting or feeling like described in the idioms and establish an emotional or visual connection for memorization.
1. Jemandem die Daumen drücken
Literal translation: To press the thumbs for someone
Meaning: “To keep one’s fingers crossed” is the English counterpart of this idiom. It is used to wish someone good luck. German people often say this before exams, interviews, or important events.
Example: „Viel Erfolg bei der Prüfung – ich drücke dir die Daumen!“
2. Tomaten auf den Augen haben
Literal translation: To have tomatoes on the eyes (die Auge: eye)
Meaning: To be blind and not see what’s obvious. Use this when someone overlooks something that’s right in front of them.
Example: „Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen? Der Schlüssel liegt direkt vor dir!“
3. Unter vier Augen
Literal translation: under four eyes (die Auge: eye)
Meaning: Privately / one-on-one. Another German expression using the “eye” for when you want to speak to someone in private, not in a group.
Example: „Können wir das unter vier Augen besprechen?“
4. Mit dem falschen Fuß aufstehen
Literal translation: To get up on the wrong side of the bed.
Meaning: Use this when someone is grumpy or in a bad mood for no clear reason.
Example: „Sei nicht so gereizt – bist du mit dem falschen Fuß aufgestanden?“
For the second set, I group German idioms that are related more on the human’s mental mind and emotional feelings rather than the physical body. You might need just a bit more imagination to understand and memorize them.
5. Den Faden verlieren
Literal translation: To lose the thread (der Faden: the thread, verlieren (v): to lose)
Meaning: Exactly the same “to lose the thread” saying as in English, or another version like “to lose your train of thought”. Say this when you’re talking and suddenly forget what you were saying.
Example: „Warte… ich habe den Faden verloren.“
6. Auf dem Schlauch stehen
Literal translation: To stand on a hose (der Schlauch: hose)
Meaning: To be oblivious / not get it. Use this when someone just doesn’t see or understand something obvious.
Example: „Ich verstehe die Aufgabe einfach nicht – ich stehe jetzt auf dem Schlauch!“
7. Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Literal translation: To not have all the cups in the cupboard (die Tasse: cup or mug, der Schrank: cupboard)
Meaning: To be a bit crazy. This idiom is a humorous way to say someone is acting strange or irrational.
Example: „Der fährt bei Rot – der hat doch nicht alle Tassen im Schrank!“
8. Fix und fertig sein
Literal translation: To be quick and ready.
Meaning: Say this when you’re totally worn out, physically or mentally, when you are exhausted.
Example: „Nach dem Umzug war ich fix und fertig.
Next are the two German idioms that I find useful for communication with others in our (daily) lives.
9. Jemandem einen Korb geben
Literal translation: To give someone a basket (der Korb). Why a basket? The idiom was speculated to originate from the Middle Ages, at the time when a woman would symbolically decline a man by giving him a broken basket.
Meaning: To reject or turn someone down (usually romantically). This idiom is your polite way to say no to a romantic proposal — or any unwanted offer.
Example: „Er war so traurig. Sie hat ihm einen Korb gegeben.“
10. Etwas durch die Blume sagen
Literal translation: To talk through the flower.
Meaning: The English would say “to beat around the bush” in this case. Use this German indiom when you to say something indirectly, such as giving feedback or criticism in a soft, polite way.
Example: „Sie hat es ihm durch die Blume gesagt – sehr höflich, aber deutlich.“
Here comes my favorite set of idioms. They are either linked with animals or food, which are really fun and easier to memorise.
11. Aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen
Literal translation: To make an elephant out of a mosquito (die Mücke: mosquito, der Elefant: elephant)
Meaning: To exaggerate the importance of a problem, to make a big deal out of something.
Example: “Es ist nicht nötig, einen Elefanten aus einer Mücke zu machen.”
12. Schwein haben
Literal translation: To have pigs (der Schwein: pig)
Meaning: Pigs are believed to symbolize luck in German, so this idiom means you are lucky as you have pigs. You can also say this when someone barely escapes trouble or wins unexpectedly.
Example: „Ich hatte echt Schwein beim Lotto!“
13. Ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift
Literal translation: I think my pig is whistling.
Meaning: This is the German version of the English phrase “When pigs fly”. Use this idiom to express astonishment about something completely unexpected or even sarcastically when you believe something is nonsense.
Example: “When sie sagt, dass sie schon drei Kinder hat, ich glaube mein Schwein pfeift. Sie sieht so jung aus!”
14. Da steppt der Bär
Literal translation: The bear dances there. (der Bär: bear)
Meaning: Use this to describe a party or event that’s fun and full of energy. A place that is lively, a party that is off the hook!
Example:„Heute Abend gehen wir tanzen – da steppt der Bär!“
15. Da liegt der Hund begraben
Literal translation: That is where the dog was buried. (der Hund: dog, begraben sein: to be buried)
Meaning: That’s the root of the problem. Use when you’ve figured out what’s really causing the issue.
Example: „Aha! Da liegt der Hund begraben!“
16. Klar wie Kloßbrühe
Literal translation: Clear as dumpling broth
Meaning: Something is crystal clear (often ironic). Can be used sincerely (when something is really clear) or sarcastically.
Example: „Na super. Klar wie Kloßbrühe…“
17. Eine Extrawurst wollen (also: Eine Extrawurst verlangen)
Literal translation: To want or demand an extra sausage.
Meaning: Of course German and their sausage love! So to say someone who wants an extra sausage, it means someone who always wants exceptions or extra attention.
Example: „Warum willst du schon wieder eine Extrawurst?“
18. Das ist mir Wurst
Literal translation: This is sausage to me.
Meaning: I don’t care. This German expression is a casual way to say “whatever” or “it doesn’t matter to me.”
Example: „Was wir essen, ist mir Wurst.“
19. Alles in Butter (also: Es ist alles in Butter)
Literal translation: It’s all in butter.
Meaning: Everything is fine (when it is in butter). Use this German idiom to reassure someone that all is going well or that a problem is solved.
Example: „Keine Sorge, alles ist in Butter!“
This final set describes different human reactions, from having intersts (or not) to do something to be really happy and excited etc.
20. Einen Ohrwurm haben
Literal translation: To have an earworm, as you’d also say in English.
Meaning: To have a song stuck in your head. Use this idiom when you can’t stop humming or thinking about a melody.
Example: „Ich habe schon den ganzen Tag diesen Ohrwurm.“
21. Bock haben (auf etwas)
Literal translation: something similar to “Lust haben”.
Meaning: This German idiom would be a great alternative to saying “Ich habe Lust” or (“Ich habe keine Lust”) to mean you feel like doing something (or not). This is a common slang for saying you’re in the mood for something.
Example: „Ich habe keinen Bock auf Putzen.“
22. Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen
Literal translation: To hit the nail on the head. (der Nagel: the nail, der Kopf: the head, treffen: to meet, to hit)
Meaning: This is yet another classic and very common idiom to use when someone says or does something perfectly accurate.
Example: „Dein Kommentar hat den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen.“
23. Ins kalte Wasser springen
Literal translation: To jump into the cold water. (springen: to jump)
Meaning: This idiom is quite self-descriptive, isn’t it. It is an equipvalent to “To jump in at the deep end” of English. Use this when starting something new and challenging without preparation. TIP: Remember to use Akkusative Case!
Example: „Für mich ist es wie ein Sprung ins kalte Wasser, wenn ich eine Präsentation auf Deutsch ohne Vorbereitung geben muss.“
24. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen
Literal translation: To leave the church in the village. (die Kirche: church, der Dorf: the village, lassen: to leave)
Meaning: Don’t exaggerate or don’t get carried away. Say this when someone is overreacting or making a big deal out of something small, so you can use this idiom to tell them to settle down.
Example: „Jetzt lass mal die Kirche im Dorf – so schlimm war’s nicht.“
25. Den Kopf in den Sand stecken
Literal translation: To bury one’s head in the sand. (stecken: to carry, to put)
Meaning: Use this when someone avoids facing a problem or responsibility.
Example: „Du kannst doch nicht einfach den Kopf in den Sand stecken.“
26. Auf Wolke sieben sein
Literal translation: To be on cloud seven
Meaning: This expression is similar to the English “to be on cloud nine.” It is to be used when extremely happy, overjoyed, or euphoric — usually because something wonderful has happened (e.g., falling in love, getting good news, achieving a big goal).
Example: Seit ich den Job bekommen habe, bin ich auf Wolke sieben.
27. Hals- und Beinbruch!
Literal translation: Literally “Break a leg!” as in English
Meaning: Say this before someone has an important event. Ironically it sounds bad, but it really means “good luck!”, which reminds us how we started with Idiom #1 also about “good luck” 😊 (Can you recall what it was?).
Example: „Morgen ist dein Vorstellungsgespräch? Hals- und Beinbruch!“
💡 How to Learn and Use German Idioms Effectively
Learning idioms can feel overwhelming (at first) but it doesn’t have to be! Here are a few easy ways to make them part of your daily learning and application:
Keep an idiom journal: You can write down quickly new expressions with examples and situations as a Collection in Bullet Journal or simply as a note taken during Rapid and Daily Logging.
Practice one idiom a day. Try to use it in a sentence, journal entry, or conversation. Have you tried the 30-Day Language Journal Challenge? It is a perfect occasion to practice your idioms knowledge.
Watch German TV or YouTube and/or listen to German Podcasts. Pay attention to when idioms come up and in what tone. Then repeat taking notes in your Bullet Journal and practice one idiom a day in real life setup.
✨ Final Thoughts
Idioms bring your German to life. They help you go beyond grammar rules and show you how native speakers think and speak.
They surely help my German language learning a lot more playful and vivid!
Don’t worry about memorizing all 27 at once — just choose your favorites and try using them this week.
Write me in the comment if you have picked a favorite from this list or if you have another suggestion for my list 😉
Happy learning German,
Suani 💕
P.S. 1: Want more German self-learning resources and tips? Check next:
👉 How to Self-Learn German from A1 to C1: Courses, Books, Tools
👉 How to Learn a Language by Yourself: 10 Steps to Fluency
👉 Why Language Learners and Bloggers Should Adopt a Bullet Journal: 5 Powerful Benefits
P.S. 2: Let us stay in touch via MyA5Letter for more news on Language Learning, Journaling, Blogging and Personal Development!
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Unfortunately I have to say „Ich stehe auf dem Schlauch“ almost daily 😂