German idioms are wonderfully literal and often involve food, animals or body parts. Drop one into a conversation and Germans will be delighted. Here are ten that are genuinely common today, not dusty proverbs.
1. Tomaten auf den Augen haben
To have tomatoes on your eyes: to fail to see something obvious.
Der Schlüssel liegt doch direkt vor dir! Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen?The key is right in front of you! Are you blind?
2. Schwein haben
To have pig: to be lucky. Pigs are lucky symbols in Germany; you'll see marzipan pigs at New Year.
Ich habe den Zug noch bekommen. Schwein gehabt!I still caught the train. Lucky!
3. Die Daumen drücken
To press your thumbs: the German version of keeping your fingers crossed.
Morgen hast du die Prüfung? Ich drücke dir die Daumen!Your exam is tomorrow? Fingers crossed for you!
4. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
I only understand train station: it's all Greek to me.
Er hat mir das Steuersystem erklärt, aber ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.He explained the tax system to me, but it's all Greek to me.
5. Das ist nicht mein Bier
That's not my beer: not my problem, none of my business.
6. Auf dem Holzweg sein
To be on the wood path: to be on the wrong track, mistaken. Wood paths were logging tracks that led into the forest and stopped.
Wenn du glaubst, dass ich dir helfe, bist du auf dem Holzweg.If you think I'm going to help you, you're mistaken.
7. Da steppt der Bär
There the bear dances: that's where the party is, it's going to be lively.
Komm Samstag zu Lenas Party, da steppt der Bär!Come to Lena's party on Saturday, it's going to be great!
8. Jemandem auf den Keks gehen
To walk on someone's biscuit: to get on someone's nerves.
Hör auf zu singen, du gehst mir auf den Keks!Stop singing, you're getting on my nerves!
9. Alles in Butter
Everything in butter: everything's fine, all good.
— Ist alles okay? — Ja, alles in Butter.— Is everything OK? — Yes, all good.
10. Ich glaube, mein Schwein pfeift
I think my pig is whistling: I don't believe it! An expression of surprise, usually irritated.
Use them in a dialogue
— Na, wie war das Vorstellungsgespräch?— So, how was the job interview?
— Ich glaube, gut. Aber der Chef hat über Zahlen geredet, und ich habe nur Bahnhof verstanden.— Good, I think. But the boss talked about figures and it was all Greek to me.
— Ach, das wird schon. Ich drücke dir die Daumen.— Oh, it'll be fine. Fingers crossed.
— Danke! Und wenn es klappt, gibt's Samstag eine Party.— Thanks! And if it works out, there'll be a party on Saturday.
— Super, da steppt bestimmt der Bär!— Great, that'll be a good one!