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

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 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

German Northern Germany , Germany

Tüddelkram

Word USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • Used to mean silly stuff.

"Mark hat wirklich sehr viel Tüddelkram in seiner Wohnung. Das meiste das er hat braucht man nicht."

"Mark has a lot of silly stuff in his flat. You don’t need most of the stuff he has."

Confirmed by 2 people

syn

German Germany

bis später Peter

Slang USED On Occasion BY Some People

(interj.) • (see you later Peter) • One equivalent of the English “See you later alligator” The person’s name doesn’t need to be Peter.

"Tschüß!" "Bis später Peter!"

"Good bye!" "See you later Peter!"

Confirmed by 4 people

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German | Swabian Baden-Württemberg , Germany

hee

Word USED On Occasion BY Everyone

(adj.) • Something that is broken, not working.

"Des Audo isch hee. (Dieses Auto ist kaputt.)"

"The car is broken."

German Germany

so ein Horst

Slang USED On Occasion BY Young People

(such a Horst) • Used as an insult for a stupid person. It’s not a really strong insult, but it shows how annoyed you are by that person. Horst is a male name.

"Hast du schon wieder vergessen, die Tür zuzumachen? Du bist so ein Horst."

"Did you forget to close the door again? You’re such a Horst."

Confirmed by 7 people

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German Germany

Kladderadatsch

Interjection USED On Rare Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (crash bang wallop ) • A mess or some undefined collection of stuff.

"Ich habe heute mein Auto aufgeräumt und den ganzen Kladderadatsch, der da drin war endlich mal weggeschmissen."

"I tidied up my car today and finally threw away all the Kladderadatsch that was in there."

Confirmed by 6 people

syn

German Germany

es gießt wie aus Kübeln.

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(it pours like out of buckets.) • Used when wanting to say that it rains heavily.

"Nein Kind, Du kannst nicht raus, es gießt wie aus Kübeln."

"No child, you can't go outside, it's pouring like out of buckets."

Confirmed by 3 people

German | Schnürlesregen (Swabian) Germany

es regnet Bindfäden

Expression USED On Occasion BY Most People

(it's raining strings) • Used to refer to constant pouring rain, so strong that you can't see separate droplets anymore.

"Nimm einen Schirm mit, es regnet heute Bindfäden."

"Take an umbrella with you, it's raining strings today."

Confirmed by 3 people

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German Germany

Platzregen

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(n.) • A very sudden downpour of heavy rain, often in a small area.

''Warte den Platzregen besser im Laden ab.''

''Better wait in the shop until the Platzregen is over.''

Confirmed by 3 people

German Germany

ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

( I think my pig whistles.) • an expression of shock in an satiric/ironic way when something unexpected happens

Er hat mein Auto geklaut! Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift!

He stole my car! I think my pig whistles!

Confirmed by 2 people

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German Germany

Hals und Beinbruch

Expression USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(n.) • (neck and leg fracture ) • Used to wish someone good luck, especially if it's relating to something dangerous.

"Ich werde meinem Chef sagen, dass ich aus Versehen meinen Stuhl kaputt gemacht habe." "Oh, na dann Hals und Beinbruch!"

"I'm going to tell my boss that I accidentally broke my chair." "Oh, well break a leg and your neck!"

Confirmed by 3 people

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German | Swabian Swabia, Germany

's Läba isch koi Schlotzer

Idiom USED On Occasion BY Swabians

(Life is not a lollipop) • Used as a response when someone complains about a small problem or task. Meaning life is not always easy.

"Ich hab noch soviel zu tun..." "s Läba osch koi Schlotzer"

"I have sooo much to do..." "Life is not a lollipop"

Confirmed by 4 people

syn

German | Plattdeutsch Northern Germany, Germany

ackerschnacker

Word USED On Very Rare Occasion BY Some People

(n.) • (field chatter) • It’s a funny and endearing way to say mobile phone. However most people would simply use the German word for mobile phone (handy) instead. “Field chatter” also suggests the farmerly my background, that most people who speak Plattdeutsch have.

"Hast du din Ackerschnacker dabi? Ick mutt mol ken anropen."

"Do you have your mobile phone with you? I need to call someone."

Confirmed by 3 people

German Germany

Schadenfreude

Word USED On Occasion BY Almost Everyone

(n.) • (damage happiness ) • To be happy by other people’s misfortune.

"Hast du gehört? Herr Müller hat schon wieder verschlafen. *lacht* Jetzt muss er Extraarbeit machen." "Du bist wirklich schadenfroh!"

"Did you hear? Mister Müller overslept again. * laughs* Now he’s got to do extra work." "You’re well gleeful!"

Confirmed by 10 people