15 common German idioms – Part 1
This lesson keeps all 15 common idioms from the original and reorganizes them into an easier-to-learn list. The goal is to help you understand the figurative meaning, remember the context and start using idioms more naturally.
What is an idiom?
Idioms are fixed phrases whose meaning cannot be explained simply by the literal meaning of each word. That is why learning idioms is a great way to expand your vocabulary and sound closer to everyday German.
15 common German idioms
| Idiom | Meaning | Memory hook |
|---|---|---|
| Tomaten auf den Augen haben | not seeing something obvious | blind to the situation |
| über Gott und die Welt reden | to talk about all sorts of things | rambling across all topics |
| Das ist ein Katzensprung | very close | not far away |
| Da liegt der Hund begraben | that is the crux of the matter | the most important point |
| klar wie Kloßbrühe | clear as day | completely easy to understand |
| Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung setzen | to try as hard as possible | to do everything to achieve it |
| gesund wie ein Fisch im Wasser | very healthy | fit as a fiddle |
| sich wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen fühlen | to feel out of place | uncomfortable in an unfamiliar environment |
| Ich bin fix und fertig | I am exhausted | worn out |
| eine Extrawurst verlangen | to demand special treatment | wanting to be treated differently |
| sich zum Affen machen | to make a fool of oneself | to behave foolishly |
| Mein und Dein verwechseln | to have a tendency to steal | to confuse what is mine with what is someone else's |
| Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof | I don't understand anything | completely lost |
| seinen Senf dazugeben | to butt in with one's opinion | to add one's own two cents |
| Das ist ein himmelweiter Unterschied | a world of difference | a very big difference |
The idioms in this lesson are fairly everyday and many of them can be used right away in conversation. However, you should only use them once you understand the exact nuance, because their literal meaning is often very different from the real one.
Mẹo học nhanh
Learn idioms by emotion or situation groups: tiredness, distance, judging others, not understanding something, giving an opinion. Grouping them this way will help you remember them much longer.