German proverbs, words and expressions, their literal translation and meaning. Please submit your own words and sentences. This blog is run by idoitbrilliantly.Tumblr (3.0; @thingsgermanssay)http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md7jghXVzb1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Destiny Day.</p> <p>Meaning: A term historians coined for 9. November, since a couple of significant historical events in Germany happened on a 9. November (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/November_9_in_German_history">→Wikipedia</a>). The term was heavily used after 9. November 1989, when the Berlin wall fell, which eventually lead to the German reunion.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/35326016023http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/35326016023Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:31:29 +0100things germans saygermandeutschschicksalstaghistory<p>Thank you! Glad you like the blog.</p> <p>I have been very absent lately, busy with … life, but I’ll try to post more again in the future!</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/34841624804http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/34841624804Fri, 02 Nov 2012 19:33:19 +0100<a href="http://www.lsa.umich.edu/german/hmr/vokabeln/deutschhilftenglisch/index.html">A list of german words with no english equivalent</a>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/34765253971http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/34765253971Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:24:00 +0100germandeutsch<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mbl9ujVnXV1qi803go1_500.jpg"/><br/><br/><p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://egal-schillerwardichter.tumblr.com/post/33176399943/berliner-grundgesetz">egal-schillerwardichter</a>:</p> <blockquote> <p>Berliner Grundgesetz!</p> </blockquote>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/33180155577http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/33180155577Mon, 08 Oct 2012 22:17:25 +0200germandeutschberlin<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb2n5qMqhS1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Cousin Economy.</p> <p>Meaning: Term for when a person gives jobs or other favours to family and close friends instead of giving them to the person who deserves them most.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32583931555http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32583931555Sun, 30 Sep 2012 11:13:48 +0200things germans saygermandeutschvetternwirtschaft<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb2n22Mgbm1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Smartshitter.</p> <p>Meaning: Know-it-all.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32525098041http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32525098041Sat, 29 Sep 2012 17:37:15 +0200things germans saygermandeutschklugscheißer<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb2mxeSmR91revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Beer Tent Set</p> <p>Meaning: A set of a long wooden table and two wooden benches, usually found at carnivals in the tents, where food and drinks are served. The set can be stored easily by collapsing the legs of the benches and table.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32511995723http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32511995723Sat, 29 Sep 2012 11:20:34 +0200things germans saygermandeutschbierzeltgarnitur<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb2mjxGU3P1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Gingerbread Heart</p> <p>Meaning: A big heart-shaped gingerbread you can buy at carnivals, such as the Oktoberfest. Traditionally a guy buys one for his date, and when buying it, he can choose between different writings on the heart to express his feelings. The date would then wear the Lebkuchenherz on a string around her neck.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32464884363http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32464884363Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:43:00 +0200things germans saygermandeutschlebkuchenherz<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mb0us6fSM21revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: It is tapped. (Bavarian dialect for “Es ist angezapft”.)</p> <p>Meaning: “O’zapft is!” is what the mayor of Munich shouts when he taps the first barrel of beer of the Oktoberfest, at noon on the first day of the event. This officially opens the festivities for everyone.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32404467583http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32404467583Thu, 27 Sep 2012 20:45:42 +0200things germans saygermandeutschoktoberfesto'zapft is<p>Yes, good idea! I will put something up when I am back home.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32388930762http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32388930762Thu, 27 Sep 2012 13:11:19 +0200isntthisenoughask<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_maz4vwxjff1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: He has taken his hat.</p> <p>Meaning: He has left the company. / He resigned from his position.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32386870894http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32386870894Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:12:20 +0200things germans saygermandeutscher hat seinen hut genommen<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_matjsyYddZ1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: That fits like the ass on the bucket.</p> <p>Meaning: That fits exactly. / That comes in handy for me. / That is convenient.</p> <p>(submitted by <a href="http://schokolossal.tumblr.com">schokolossal</a>)</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32189786755http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32189786755Mon, 24 Sep 2012 11:19:12 +0200things germans saygermandeutschdas passt wie der arsch auf den eimer<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mar5wp90oQ1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Where (there is) no suitor, there (is) no judge.</p> <p>Meaning: As long as nobody complains / does something, nothing will happen / change.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32126812668http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32126812668Sun, 23 Sep 2012 17:34:34 +0200things germans saygermandeutschwo kein kläger da kein richter<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_manufqXZPO1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: Well he’s got one on the waffle.</p> <p>Meaning: He does something crazy / irresponsible.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32112667081http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32112667081Sun, 23 Sep 2012 11:18:41 +0200things germans saygermandeutschder hat doch einen an der waffel<p>Hmm, gute Frage! Ich versuche, nichts allzu obszönes zu posten, wobei das aber mehr nach Gefühl geht. Nur weil das Wort “Arsch” vorkommt, heißt es nicht, dass ich etwas nicht posten würde. Beispielsweise habe ich auch <a href="http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/30026168026/literal-that-passes-my-ass-meaning-i-dont">→Das geht mir am Arsch vorbei</a>.</p> <p>Deine beiden Beispiele sind aber schon grenzwertig, das erste würde ich <strike>wahrscheinlich</strike> nicht posten, während das zweite irgendwie als Ausdruck auch ganz lustig ist, wenn man mal darüber nachdenkt.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32112118106http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32112118106Sun, 23 Sep 2012 10:58:00 +0200ask<img src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mantqbVO7R1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: I believe I’m standing in the forest.</p> <p>Meaning: Expression of surprise. (mostly negative, though)</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32052763081http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32052763081Sat, 22 Sep 2012 17:35:54 +0200things germans saygermandeutschich glaub ich steh im wald<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mantych3JK1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: That is a found food.</p> <p>Meaning: This is a great opportunity / something one has been waiting for.</p> <p>(submitted by <a href="http://nonmatchingsocks.tumblr.com">nonmatchingsocks</a>)</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32039678562http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/32039678562Sat, 22 Sep 2012 11:16:21 +0200things germans saygermandeutschdas ist ein gefundenes fressen<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mantjsNpCQ1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: That is yesterday’s snow.</p> <p>Meaning: This is outdated / nothing new / not interesting anymore.</p> <p>(submitted by <a href="http://hotx3.tumblr.com">hotx3</a>)</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31986918061http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31986918061Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:40:46 +0200things germans saygermandeutschdas ist schnee von gestern<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/sep/21/germans-word-long-language?mobile-redirect=false">The Guardian: "The Germans have a word for it – and it's a very long one"</a>: <p><a class="tumblr_blog" href="http://idoitbrilliantly.tumblr.com/post/31979451261/the-guardian-the-germans-have-a-word-for-it-and">idoitbrilliantly</a>:</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p>The editor of the <em>Accidental Empire</em> series muses on another thing the Germans do extremely well.</p> </blockquote> <p>(Hint: It’s compound nouns.)</p> </blockquote>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31979491062http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31979491062Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:33:00 +0200germandeutschnewspaper article<img src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_manu8vgJmC1revzuvo1_500.png"/><br/><br/><p>Literal: That is going on my cookie.</p> <p>Meaning: That is getting on my nerves.</p>http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31976879225http://thingsgermanssay.tumblr.com/post/31976879225Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:18:06 +0200things germans saygermandeutschdas geht mir auf den keks