On this page
Idioms often make little sense word for word. These ten expressions give you a literal image, their everyday meaning and an example. Most belong to informal conversation, and several can sound teasing or insulting.
1. Um den heißen Brei herumreden
Literal image: to talk around the hot porridge.
Meaning: to beat around the bush.
Rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum! — Stop beating around the bush!
Use it when someone avoids getting to the point. The literal image is memorable, but a colourful origin story should not be treated as established history.
2. Darauf kannst du Gift nehmen
Literal image: you can take poison on that.
Meaning: you can be certain of that.
Er kommt bestimmt, darauf kannst du Gift nehmen. — He will definitely come; you can be sure of that.
The shorter colloquial variant Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen is also heard. This is a figurative expression. German Gift means poison; English “gift” is German Geschenk.
3. Das kannst du deiner Oma erzählen
Literal image: you can tell that to your grandma.
Meaning: I do not believe that / tell that to someone else.
Du hast den Zug verpasst, weil dein Wecker kaputt war? Das kannst du deiner Oma erzählen! — You missed the train because your alarm clock broke? I am not buying that!
It dismisses someone’s story and can sound rude or teasing. It is not evidence that German grandmothers have a particular personality.
4. Das passt wie die Faust aufs Auge
Literal image: that fits like a fist on an eye.
Meaning: that fits perfectly; sometimes used ironically for a poor match.
Die Rolle passt wie die Faust aufs Auge zu ihr. — The role suits her perfectly.
Both the speaker’s tone and context matter. Do not assume the image always signals either a good or a bad fit.
5. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen
Literal image: to leave the church in the village.
Meaning: to keep things in perspective / not exaggerate.
Lass die Kirche im Dorf — so schlimm ist es nicht. — Keep things in perspective; it is not that bad.
This can calm an exaggerated claim or demand. It does not come from a rule forbidding churches in cities.
6. Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen
Literal image: to play the offended liver sausage.
Meaning: to sulk / act offended.
Seit dem Streit spielt er die beleidigte Leberwurst. — Since the argument, he has been sulking.
This is colloquial and dismissive: it suggests that the offence is exaggerated or unwarranted. “Have a cow” is not the closest translation, because that suggests an angry outburst rather than sulking.
7. Den inneren Schweinehund überwinden
Literal image: to overcome one’s inner pig-dog.
Meaning: to overcome one’s reluctance or lack of motivation.
Heute habe ich meinen inneren Schweinehund überwunden und gelernt. — Today I overcame my reluctance and studied.
It is often used about exercising, studying or getting started on a task. Schweinehund directed at a person is a harsh insult; the established innerer Schweinehund expression has a different use.
8. Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt
Literal image: the dog in the pan goes crazy.
Meaning: an exclamation of astonishment or disbelief.
Schon wieder eine Preiserhöhung? Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt! — Another price increase? That is unbelievable!
It can sound colourful or old-fashioned. Stories connecting it to Till Eulenspiegel are often repeated, but the expression’s meaning is more useful to a learner than an unverified origin story.
9. Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Literal image: not to have all the cups in the cupboard.
Meaning: to be acting irrationally / not to be right in the head.
Hast du noch alle Tassen im Schrank? — Have you lost your mind?
This is insulting or sharply critical. It is a comment on someone’s conduct, not a medical diagnosis. Avoid using it as a neutral description of mental health.
10. Jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können
Literal image: not to be able to hand someone the water.
Meaning: not to be able to match someone’s skill or quality.
Beim Schach kann ich ihr nicht das Wasser reichen. — I cannot match her at chess.
The person compared against is dative: ihr, ihm, dem Meister. Being unable to match a stronger player does not necessarily mean being bad at the activity.
More expressions with animals and food
- Schwein haben — to be lucky: Da hast du Schwein gehabt! — You were lucky there!
- Wir haben noch keine Schweine zusammen gehütet. — Literally, we have not herded pigs together. It rejects excessive familiarity: roughly, “We are not on those familiar terms.” It does not simply mean being unable to trust someone.
- Eine Extrawurst wollen — to want special treatment. Eine Extrawurst bekommen — to get special treatment.
- Kein Schwein war da. — Nobody was there. This is very colloquial; it need not refer to a party.
- Tomaten auf den Augen haben — to overlook something obvious. This is separate from the expression of astonishment about the dog in the pan.
- Einen Vogel haben — to be behaving foolishly or irrationally. It can be insulting; it does not establish a historical medical explanation.
- Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei. — Everything has an end; only a sausage has two. This is a playful saying about things coming to an end.
How to practice idioms
Start by recognizing expressions in context. Then learn one complete sentence with the correct verb and case. You do not need to fill every conversation with idioms to speak naturally; a clear ordinary sentence is often best.
Which expression fits: someone avoids the point / you motivate yourself to study / you cannot match a friend’s chess skill?
Check the answers
Um den heißen Brei herumreden; den inneren Schweinehund überwinden; jemandem nicht das Wasser reichen können.
