idioms – Nina Schmidt ~ Vancouver German and Spanish Lessons

Common German Idioms

Learn With Nina — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 01:45:30 +0000

Idioms can be fun and a challenge to learn in a foreign language. Here are some great ones in German!

1. um den heißen Brei herumreden

Literally: to talk around the hot porridge
English equivalent: to beat around the bush

2. Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen

Literally: You can take poison on that
English equivalent: You can bet your life on that

3. sich zum Affen machen

Literally: to make an ape of oneself
English equivalent: to make a fool of oneself

4. eine Extrawurst verlangen

Literally: to ask for an extra sausage
English Equivalent: to ask for special treatment

5. Da steppt der Bär

Literally: The bear dances there
English Equivalent: It will be a good party

6. Tomaten auf den Augen haben

Literally: to have tomatoes on one’s eyes
English Equivalent: to be oblivious to what is going around you

7. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof

Literally: I can only understand “train station.”
English equivalent: It’s all Greek to me.

Grammar Tips – What are Idioms?

Learn With Nina — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 15:50:28 +0000

It seems that nothing frustrates learners of a foreign language more than idioms. Idioms are those phrases that cannot be translated directly from one language to another. They often involve turns of phrase, animals, colors or emotions in strange combinations! Here are some amusing idioms from various languages that, when translated directly, would make any foreigner to the language scratch their head.

He has been blue. = He has been sad.

He was caught red-handed. = He was caught in the act.

Por si las moscas (in case of flies!) = Just in case.

Andar como perros y gatos (walk like dogs and cats) = to always be arguing.

Das Blaue von Himmel versprechen (to promise the blue from the sky) = to promise someone the moon.

Tomaten auf den Augen haben (to have tomatoes on your eyes) = to be oblivious to what’s going on.

Grammar Tips: Common Idioms with ‘estar’

Learn With Nina — Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:29:30 +0000

The Spanish verb estar has many idiomatic expressions associated with it. Idioms are phrases or sentences that do not translate directly from one language to another. A common example in English is ‘ it’s raining cats and dogs.’ Idioms developed over time in languages and sometimes the origin of them is known and other times it is unknown. They are a colourful part of any language and should be learned along with regular vocabulary and grammar to become a fluent speaker. Here are some of the more common idioms with estar:

estar de viaje to be travelling

estar de vacaciones to be on vacation

estar de negocios to be somewhere on business

estar de moda to be in fashion/style

estar en forma to be in shape

estar de acuerdo to be in agreement

estar de jefe to be the acting boss

estar en un lío to be in a mess/trouble

estar de rodillas to be kneeling

estar de pie to be standing

estar de buen/mal humor to be in a good/bad mood

Being mindful when using adjectives with estar to agree your adjective with your noun!

estar hecho/a polvo to be worn out

estar hecho/a una sopa to be soaking wet

estar apurado/a to be in a hurry

Grammar Tips: Expressing ‘to’ in German with verbs of motion

Learn With Nina — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:44:48 +0000

Unlike English, German uses a variety of prepositions to express ‘to’ with verbs of motion. What follows is a concise study guide to this tricky aspect of German grammar.

A. With geographic place names

When traveling to a geographic place name, use the preposition nach. This includes: countries, cities, towns, etc.

I am flying to Germany. Ich fliege nach Deutschland.

*Exception: if the place name is preceded by an article. This includes: die Schweiz, der Libanon, die Türkei, der Jemen, die USA (Plural), der Iran, die Niederlande (Plural), der Irak etc.

I am flying to Switzerland. Ich fliege in die Schweiz.

B. With places around town:

With places around town, either the preposition ‘in’ is used in the accusative case, or the proposition ‘zu’ is used in the dative case. Contractions are commonly employed.

I am going to the market. Ich gehe in den or zum (zu+dem) Markt.

C. Idiomatic usages

The following examples are idiomatic in nature and must simply be memorized:

I am going to the bank/post office. Ich gehe auf die Bank/Post.

I am going home. Ich gehe nach Hause.

We are driving to the coast. Wir fahren an die Küste.

Grammar Tips: Idiomatic Expressions

Learn With Nina — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 17:14:54 +0000

Idiomatic expressions or idioms are phrases that do not translate directly from one language to another and are often couched in the history and language of a specific culture. A good example of an idiom is, “it’s raining cats and dogs.” To a native English speaker it is obvious that people’s pets are not literally falling from the sky but to a learner of English this expression could be very confusing indeed!

Below are some useful idiomatic expressions. Integrating idioms into your everyday conversation is essential to achieving fluency in a foreign language.

In Spanish:

Me estás tomando el pelo.
(You are taking me by the hair)
You’re pulling my leg.

Voy a consultarlo con la almohada.
(I’m going to consult my pillow about it)
I’m going to sleep on it.

Siempre me da la lata.
(He’s always giving me the can)
He’s always bothering me.

La entrevista va a ser pan comido.
(The interview will be eaten bread)
The interview will be a piece of cake.

Aquí hay gato encerrado.
(There is an enclosed cat here)
Something here smells fishy.

Cuesta un ojo de la cara.
(It costs an eye off the face)
It costs an arm and a leg.

In German:

Ich habe die Nase voll.
(I have my nose full)
I am fed up.

Es ist mir Wurst.
(It is sausage to me)
I don’t care.

Ich drücke dir die Daumen.
(I will press my thumbs for you)
I will keep my fingers crossed for you.

Was ich nicht weiss, macht mich nicht heiß.
(What I don’t know doesn’t make me hot)
What I don’t know can’t hurt me.

Nimmst du mich auf den Arm?
(Are you taking me by the arm?)
Are you pulling my leg?

Das ist ein Hundewetter.
(It is dog weather)
It’s raining cats and dogs.

If you have have had a funny experience with a foreign idiom visit my Facebook fan page to share or comment below!