German German speaking countries

nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank haben

Expression USED On Occasion BY Elderly people, Baby Boomers, Hipsters, People who make fun of it

(not to have all cups in the cupboard anymore) • to be or do something crazy or out of your mind It’s the english equivalent of having a screw loose.

„Du bist bei Rot über die Kreuzung gefahren? Du hast ja nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank!“

„You ran over a red traffic light? You don‘t have cups in your cabinet!“

German German speaking countries

Meldemuschi

Slang USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

References to a person who likes to report everything to admins, cops etc.

"Waren wieder Meldemuschis unterwegs."

"Seems that there were reporterpussiess around."

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German German speaking countries

digga

Slang USED Very frequently BY Young People

(n.) • (fat one) • Form of “Dicker” (fat one). Used to refer to any person, or as an interjection.

“Digga, lass nach der Schule zum Penny gehen”

“Fat one, let's go to the Penny after school”

Confirmed by 3 people

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German Germany

die Augen waren größer als der Bauch

Standard Phrase USED On Rare Occasion BY Mostly middle aged people

(the eyes were bigger than the belly) • Usually used when someone bought or put more food on their plate than they could eat because they were hungry and therefore thought they could eat more than they actually could. It can be an accusation that they wasted food.

„Das kann ich nicht mehr essen, ich bin so satt!“ „Deine Augen waren größer als dein Bauch.“

„I can't eat that anymore, I’m so full!“ „Your eyes were bigger than your belly.“

Confirmed by 4 people

German German speaking countries

Emoji USED On Occasion BY Some People

When you wish someone good luck in German you would say "Ich drücke dir die Daumen", which literally means "I'll press my thumbs for you". Because of that, 🤞 ("I'll keep my fingers crossed") isn't used to wish good luck (in German 🤞 means that you are lying). We rather use ✊ which stands for the thumbs pressed.

"Viel Glück bei der Prüfung! Ich drücke dir die Daumen ✊!"

"Good luck for the exam! I'll press my thumbs for you ✊!"

German Germany

Mof

Slang USED On Rare Occasion BY Young People

(n.) • It’s an abbreviation for “Mensch Ohne Freunde” (Person without friends) and is usually used as a joke among friends when you’re in a situation all by yourself.

“Ich war die einzige, die da war. Ich habe mich wie ein Mof gefühlt.”

"I’m the only one who was there. I felt like a Mof."

Confirmed by 2 people

German Germany

Doppelkinnhalter

Word USED On Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (double chin holder) • Used to jokingly refer to a face mask, as people often wear their masks below their chin so they can pull it up over their mouth and nose quickly when needed. But this looks as if they are using it as a holder for their double chin.

"Guck mal! Da ist wieder jemand mit Doppelkinnhalter."

"Look! There's another person wearing a double chin holder."

German Germany

Gesichtsverschönerung

Word USED On Occasion BY Most People

(n.) • (face beautifier) • Used ironically during the coronavirus pandemic to express that wearing the face mask makes us look more beautiful ("face beautifier"). In Germany it is illegal to use the official name (Mund-Nasen-Schutz = mouth-nose-protection, only to use for professional and certified medical products) for our homemade masks (especially when they are sold to others). So we created some other funny names for it.

"Einen Moment, bitte, ich muss erst meine Gesichtsverschönerung anziehen."

"One second, please, I need to put on my face beautifier first."

Confirmed by 2 people

ety

German Germany; Switzerland

Bulle

Slang USED On Occasion BY mostly young people

(n.) • (bull) • a rather insulting term used to refer to a police officer, often used similar to the word „cop“ in English

"Ich rufe die Bullen."

"I‘m calling the bulls."

Confirmed by 4 people

German Various countries

einen Zahn zulegen

Expression USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(to gain a tooth ) • To do something faster.

"Du bist so langsam, leg mal einen Zahn zu!"

"You're so slow, gain a tooth!"

Confirmed by 4 people

German Austria

schwein haben

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

(to have pig ) • To be lucky that something didn't happen.

"Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass ich es vor dem Regen schaffe. Aber ich habs geschafft!" "Da hast du ja Schwein gehabt!"

"I really thought I would not make it before the rain, but I made it!" "You really had pig!"

Confirmed by 5 people

ety

German Germany

Holland in Not

Expression USED On Occasion BY mostly everyone

(Holland in distress ) • Used when a problem occurs or a situation seems to go bad.

Wenn sie das nochmal machen, dann ist aber Holland in Not!

If they’re doing this again, Holland’s gonna be in distress!

syn

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German Germany

dumm wie Bohnenstroh

Idiom USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(interj.) • (dumb as a bean haulm) • Describes a stupid person.

"Er ist wirklich dumm wie Bohnenstroh!"

"He’s dumb as a dumb as bean haulm!"

Confirmed by 2 people

German German speaking countries

auf dem Schlauch stehen

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(to stand on the pipe ) • Used to describe the feeling of being stuck on or being unable to understand something.

„Verstehst du was ich meine?“ „Nein, ich stehe total auf dem Schlauch.“

“Do you understand what I mean?“ “No, I’m completely standing on the pipe.”

German Germany

auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(a blind chicken will also find a seed) • Used when even though you're not very competent or good at something, you succeed. It's usually used pejoratively or dismissively or to belittle someone.

"Hey, ich habe es geschafft!" "Auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn."

"Hey, I made it!" "Even a blind chicken can find a seed sometimes."

Confirmed by 4 people

syn

German Germany

Kohle

Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone apart from old people

(n.) • Money.

“Ich habe keine Kohle mehr.”

“I don’t have any money left.”

Confirmed by 5 people

German Germany

jemandem einen Bären aufbinden

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(to tie a bear for someone) • To tell a silly lie, to be kidding someone.

"Ich habe heute eine ganze Torte gegessen!" "Willst du mir einen Bären aufbinden?"

"I ate a whole cake today!" "Do you want to tie a bear for me?"

Confirmed by 2 people

German Germany

wie ein Elefant im Porzellanladen

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(like an elephant in a porcelain store) • Used when someone is being clumsy.

"Er benimmt sich wie ein Elefant im Porzellanladen."

"He's behaving like an elephant in a porcelain store."

Confirmed by 5 people

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German | Austrian Austria

servus

Interjection USED Frequently BY Most People

(interj.) • It is a way of saying hello and/or bye that's only used in informal settings (e.g. with friends or family).

"Servus! Wie geht's? Lange nicht mehr gesehen!"

"Hi! How are you? Long time no see!"

Confirmed by 4 people

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German Styria, Austria

gschreams

Slang USED On Occasion BY frequent in rural area

(adj.) • It is a form of direction, something like 'across'. Can also indicate a shortcut.

"Was ist der schnellste Weg?" "Erst gerade die Straße entlang und dann gschreams über das Feld."

"What is the fastest route to go there?" "First you go straight ahead down the street and then you go cross the field."