Useful German: A collection of ways modern German people have expressed themselves socially and at work. With thanks to David Challinor
July 30, 2021
Thanks to David Challinor for this very interesting and valuable compendium of modern German expressions, collected over many years of workign in Germany.
Some examples - many, many more on the download.
ein Elefantenrennen…..one slow moving lorry overtaking another on the motorway
sich den Schuh anziehen…..take something personally
Sturm klingeln…….keep on ringing the doorbell
sein eigenes Süppchen kochen… to go your own way
containern…to steal discarded but still edible food from skips behind supermarkets
dumm gelaufen!.....Hard Luck S- - t happens!
Luft nach oben haben…..room for improvement
freischalten….unlock, activate, enable(e.g. mobile phone)
die Denksportaufgabe…..teaser, quiz
sich festquatschen…….to get stuck talking to someone and forget the time
Herz, was willst du mehr?....What more could anyone want/ a heart’s desire?
Das ging ja noch, was?... That wasn’t so bad, was it?
Das ist die halbe Miete….half the battle
Man hat schon Pferde (vor der Apotheke) kotzen sehen….You never know. Anything can happen (literally: one has already seen horses throw up in front of the pharmacy)
Beschrei es nicht!....Don’t tempt fate! Don’t speak too soon!
Ich hänge schon ziemlich….I’m already a bit behind (with it)
Das ist noch nicht spruchreif… It’s not official/definite yet
Er hat eine Zettelwirtschaft…..bits of paper everywhere
Das Leben ist kein Wunschkonzert! / kein Ponyhof! / kein Kindergeburtstag!….Life’s..…a bitch! / no walk in the park!
Er ist eine Frostbeule… He’s ‘nesh’ (sensitive to cold)
Die Fußhupe…..small yappy dog that
https://johnbald.typepad.com/language/a-level-and-sixth-form/