30 German Idioms That Make No Sense in English (With Real Meanings)

Translate German idioms literally and you get surrealist poetry: someone is dancing at two weddings, a pig whistles, and your friend claims to understand only train stations. Yet every one of these phrases makes perfect sense to 100 million native speakers.

Here are 30 funny German idioms with English translations, their literal absurdity, what they really mean, and how to use them. Learning idioms like these is one of the fastest ways to stop translating in your head and start thinking in German.

Idioms About Not Understanding Anything

1. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof

Literal: I only understand train station. Meaning: I do not understand a thing. The essential idiom for every German learner, ironically.

Example: "Kannst du das nochmal erklären? Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof." ("Can you explain that again? It's all Greek to me.")

2. Das kommt mir spanisch vor

Literal: That seems Spanish to me. Meaning: Something seems fishy or strange. The German version of "it's all Greek to me," aimed at suspicion rather than confusion.

Example: "Er will das Auto für 500 Euro verkaufen? Das kommt mir spanisch vor." ("He wants to sell the car for 500 euros? Something smells fishy.")

3. Auf dem Schlauch stehen

Literal: To stand on the hose. Meaning: To be unable to figure something out; to blank. The water cannot flow because you are standing on the hose.

Example: "Wie hieß der Film nochmal? Ich stehe total auf dem Schlauch." ("What was that movie called again? I'm drawing a complete blank.")

Idioms About Luck, Comfort and Good Times

4. Schwein haben

Literal: To have pig. Meaning: To be lucky. In medieval contests, the consolation prize was literally a pig.

Example: "Die Prüfung war genau über das Kapitel, das ich gelernt hatte. Schwein gehabt!" ("The exam was exactly about the chapter I'd studied. Lucky me!")

5. Wie die Made im Speck leben

Literal: To live like a maggot in bacon. Meaning: To live in luxury, surrounded by abundance. Disgusting image, enviable lifestyle.

Example: "Seit er die Firma verkauft hat, lebt er wie die Made im Speck." ("Since he sold the company, he's been living the life of Riley.")

6. Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof

Literal: Life is not a pony farm. Meaning: Life is not all sunshine and rainbows. Modern, very common, slightly sarcastic.

Example: "Mein Chef erwartet Überstunden? Tja, das Leben ist kein Ponyhof." ("My boss expects overtime? Well, life's no picnic.")

7. Tomaten auf den Augen haben

Literal: To have tomatoes on one's eyes. Meaning: To be oblivious to something obvious.

Example: "Der Schlüssel lag direkt vor dir! Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen?" ("The key was right in front of you! Are you blind?")

8. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen

Literal: To leave the church in the village. Meaning: Don't exaggerate; keep things in proportion.

Example: "Es war ein kleiner Fehler, kein Skandal. Lass mal die Kirche im Dorf." ("It was a small mistake, not a scandal. Let's not blow this out of proportion.")

Idioms About Effort and Trouble

9. Da steppt der Bär

Literal: That's where the bear tap-dances. Meaning: That's where the party is; it is going to be lively.

Example: "Komm am Samstag zur WG-Party, da steppt der Bär!" ("Come to the flat party on Saturday, it's going to be wild!")

10. Auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen

Literal: To dance at two weddings. Meaning: To try to do two incompatible things at once; to have it both ways.

Example: "Du kannst nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen: entscheide dich für einen Job." ("You can't have it both ways: pick one job.")

11. Ins Gras beißen

Literal: To bite into the grass. Meaning: To die; to bite the dust.

Example: "In dem Actionfilm beißen alle Bösewichte am Ende ins Gras." ("In that action movie, all the villains bite the dust in the end.")

12. Den Teufel an die Wand malen

Literal: To paint the devil on the wall. Meaning: To imagine the worst-case scenario out loud; to jinx things by being pessimistic.

Example: "Mal nicht den Teufel an die Wand, der Flug wird schon nicht ausfallen." ("Don't jinx it, the flight won't get cancelled.")

13. Mit seinem Latein am Ende sein

Literal: To be at the end of one's Latin. Meaning: To be out of ideas, to not know what else to try.

Example: "Der Computer startet einfach nicht mehr. Ich bin mit meinem Latein am Ende." ("The computer just won't start anymore. I'm out of ideas.")

14. Sich zum Affen machen

Literal: To make a monkey of oneself. Meaning: To make a fool of yourself.

Example: "Ich singe nicht beim Karaoke, ich will mich nicht zum Affen machen." ("I'm not doing karaoke, I don't want to make a fool of myself.")

15. Die Daumen drücken

Literal: To press the thumbs. Meaning: To keep one's fingers crossed. Germans press thumbs instead of crossing fingers.

Example: "Morgen ist mein Vorstellungsgespräch. Drück mir die Daumen!" ("My job interview is tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed for me!")

Enjoying the absurdity? The fastest way to make idioms stick is to meet them in real dialogue. Our colloquial German stories are packed with exactly this kind of language, with translations and notes so nothing stays "Bahnhof" for long.

Discover Colloquial German Stories

Idioms About Food (Because Germany)

16. Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei

Literal: Everything has an end, only the sausage has two. Meaning: All things come to an end. Delivered with a wink at farewells.

Example: "Der Urlaub ist vorbei. Tja, alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei." ("The vacation is over. Well, all good things come to an end.")

17. Das ist mir Wurst

Literal: That is sausage to me. Meaning: I don't care either way. Possibly the most useful idiom in this list.

Example: "Pizza oder Pasta? Das ist mir Wurst, such du aus." ("Pizza or pasta? I don't care, you choose.")

18. Um den heißen Brei herumreden

Literal: To talk around the hot porridge. Meaning: To beat around the bush.

Example: "Red nicht um den heißen Brei herum: was ist passiert?" ("Stop beating around the bush: what happened?")

19. Seinen Senf dazugeben

Literal: To add one's mustard. Meaning: To give an unsolicited opinion; to put in one's two cents.

Example: "Bei jedem Thema muss er seinen Senf dazugeben." ("He has to put in his two cents on every topic.")

20. In den sauren Apfel beißen

Literal: To bite into the sour apple. Meaning: To bite the bullet; to do something unpleasant but necessary.

Example: "Ich hasse Steuererklärungen, aber ich muss in den sauren Apfel beißen." ("I hate tax returns, but I have to bite the bullet.")

21. Das ist nicht mein Bier

Literal: That is not my beer. Meaning: That's not my business or my problem.

Example: "Was die Nachbarn machen, ist nicht mein Bier." ("What the neighbors do is none of my business.")

22. Jemandem ein X für ein U vormachen

Literal: To pass off an X as a U to someone. Meaning: To deceive someone. From Roman numerals, where a V (written U) could be forged into an X.

Example: "Der Verkäufer wollte mir ein X für ein U vormachen, aber ich kenne die Preise." ("The salesman tried to pull a fast one on me, but I know the prices.")

Idioms About Animals Doing Impossible Things

23. Ich glaub, mein Schwein pfeift

Literal: I think my pig is whistling. Meaning: An exclamation of disbelief: you cannot be serious.

Example: "Die Miete soll um 40 Prozent steigen? Ich glaub, mein Schwein pfeift!" ("The rent is going up 40 percent? You've got to be kidding me!")

24. Da liegt der Hund begraben

Literal: That's where the dog is buried. Meaning: That is the heart of the matter; the real problem.

Example: "Das Budget wurde nie genehmigt. Da liegt der Hund begraben." ("The budget was never approved. That's the crux of the problem.")

25. Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen

Literal: To hit two flies with one swatter. Meaning: To kill two birds with one stone.

Example: "Wenn ich zu Fuß zur Arbeit gehe, spare ich Geld und mache Sport: zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe." ("If I walk to work I save money and exercise: two birds with one stone.")

26. Die Katze im Sack kaufen

Literal: To buy the cat in the sack. Meaning: To buy something without checking it first; to buy a pig in a poke.

Example: "Probier das Auto erst, kauf nicht die Katze im Sack." ("Test-drive the car first, don't buy a pig in a poke.")

27. Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt

Literal: That's when the dog in the frying pan goes crazy. Meaning: Another exclamation of utter disbelief at an absurd situation.

Example: "Jetzt streikt auch noch das WLAN. Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt!" ("Now even the wifi is down. This is unbelievable!")

28. Einen Vogel haben

Literal: To have a bird. Meaning: To be crazy. Tapping your temple while saying it doubles the effect (and the offense).

Example: "Du willst bei dem Sturm segeln gehen? Du hast doch einen Vogel!" ("You want to go sailing in this storm? You're nuts!")

29. Perlen vor die Säue werfen

Literal: To throw pearls before the sows. Meaning: To waste something valuable on someone who cannot appreciate it.

Example: "Guter Wein für Leute, die Cola reinmischen? Perlen vor die Säue." ("Good wine for people who mix it with cola? Pearls before swine.")

30. Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen

Literal: No master has ever fallen from the sky. Meaning: Nobody is born an expert; skill takes practice. The perfect idiom to end a list for learners.

Example: "Mein Deutsch ist noch nicht perfekt. Keine Sorge, es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen." ("My German isn't perfect yet. Don't worry, practice makes perfect.")

How to Make These Idioms Stick

A list of 30 is a menu, not a meal. To actually own these expressions:

1. Choose the five you find funniest. Humor is glue for memory, and these idioms are natural jokes.
2. Say them out loud in context the same day you learn them, even if only to yourself.
3. Read German that uses real spoken language. Stories full of dialogue show you which idioms Germans reach for daily, and the 5-Minute German Journal gives you a daily habit to practice writing them.

Want to compare how other languages hide their wisdom in strange images? Try our tour of Spanish idioms with similar meanings in English next.

Viel Erfolg, and remember: es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen.