German German speaking countries

Siebkopf

Slang USED On Occasion BY Some People

(sieve head) • Someone who tends to forget everything

"Hab ich dir gestern noch erzählt, du Siebkopf!"

"I just told you yesterday, you sieve head!"

German German speaking countries

Flüssigbrot

Word USED Frequently BY Adults

(liquid bread) • A way of saying ‘beer’ in a joking manner, referring to the fact that both beer and bread are made of wheat.

„In Bayern gibts das beste Flüssigbrot!“

“In Bavaria there's the best liquid bread!”

German German speaking countries

nah am Wasser gebaut

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(built close to the water) • Somebody who cries easily.

"Susi ist nah am Wasser gebaut - sie weint bei jedem Film."

"Susi is built close to the water - she cries during every movie."

German German speaking countries

luftschlösser

Word USED On Occasion BY Most People

(air castles) • An unrealiatic dream or fantasy, pipe dream.

"Deine Pläne sind alles nur Luftschlösser."

"Your plans are all just air castles."

German German speaking countries

schnee von gestern

Expression USED Frequently BY Everyone

(snow from yesterday) • Something that is no longer relevant. Often used to demonstrate forgiveness. Roughly corresponds to English "water under the bridge".

"Sorry, dass ich letztes Mal auf dich vergessen habe!" "Das ist doch Schnee von gestern!"

"I'm sorry that I forgot you last time!" "It's snow from yesterday!"

German German speaking countries

am Arsch der Welt

Expression USED Frequently BY Almost Everyone

(at the ass of the world) • In the back of beyond, in the middle of nowhere, in the boondocks.

"Lass uns nach Hintertupfingen umziehen. " "Nein, das liegt ja am Arsch der Welt!"

"Let's move to Podunk." "No, that's in the middle of nowhere!"

German German speaking countries

jemand hat nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank

Expression USED Frequently BY Everybody

(someone doesn't have all cups in the cupboard) • When you want to tell someone that they are mad/crazy/insane.

''Ich habe meinem Mann verziehen, obwohl er mich zweimal betrogen hat.'' "Was? Hast du nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank?"

''I have forgiven my husband even though he cheated on me twice.'' ''What? Don't you have all cups in the cupboard?''

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."

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”

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 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 German speaking countries

Ohrwurm

Word USED Very frequently BY Everyone

(n.) • (earworm) • A song stuck in your head.

"Ich habe seit Tagen einen Ohrwurm von diesem Lied! Es geht mir einfach nicht aus dem Kopf!"

"I've had an earworm of this song for the past few days! I just can't get it out of my head!"

German German speaking countries

Arschgeige

Slang USED On Occasion BY Teens

(n.) • (ass-violin) • An insult for someone you really don't like, a synonym for "idiot".

"Er hat mir mein Geld geklaut! So eine Arschgeige!"

"He stole my money! What an ass-violin!"

German German speaking countries

den Führerschein im Lotto gewonnen haben

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Angry Drivers

(to have won your driver's license in the lottery) • This phrase is usually used while driving when another driver makes a mistake or drives carelessly.

Autofahrer missachtet die Vorrangregeln - "Hast du deinen Führerschein im Lotto gewonnen oder was?"

A driver ignores the priority rules - "Have you won your driver's licence in the lottery or something?"

German German speaking countries

Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof

Proverb USED On Rare Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(Life is not a pony farm) • This phrase is used when trying to express that life is not easy.

"Du musst dir dein Geld selbst erarbeiten, das Leben ist schließlich kein Ponyhof."

"You have to work for your own money, life is not a pony farm after all."

German German speaking countries

Spaßbremse

Word USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(n.) • (fun brake) • A person who either refuses to take part in fun activities or ruins the fun for everybody else.

"Könnt ihr die Musik bitte leiser machen?" "Ach Mensch, du bist so eine Spaßbremse!"

"Could you please turn down the music?" "Oh man, you are such a fun brake!"

German German speaking countries

nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Some People

(to not have all the cups in the cupboard) • To be crazy.

"Du willst trotz des Sturms schwimmen gehen? Du hast doch nicht alle Tassen im Schrank!"

"You want to go swimming despite the storm? You must not have all the cups in the cupboard!"

German German speaking countries

Holla, die Waldfee!

Idiom USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

("Holla, the forest fairy!") • Can be used to express a state of surprise or shock. However, it is very rarely used in a serious way because of its rather funny wording.

"Dein neues Auto sieht ja richtig schick aus! Aber der Preis... Holla, die Waldfee!"

"Your new car looks really nice! But the price... Holla, the forest fairy!"

German German speaking countries

toll

Word USED Very frequently BY Almost Everyone

(adj.) • (cool) • Used to express acceptance, or to indicate that you like something.

"Es ist toll das du da bist."

"It is cool that you are here."