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Idioms (for German speaking people) / Learning English
Friday, February 24, 2006 5:18:31 AM
"a piece of cake" - "ein Kinderspiel"Wörtl. Übersetzung: "ein Stück Kuchen"
Definition: Something which is very easy to do.
Example: The history test was a piece of cake- I finished it in about ten minutes.
"to make up one's mind" - "sich entscheiden"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "seine Meinung bilden"
Definition: To come to a decision (after thinking something over).
Example: She was confronted by a vast, colorful array
of ices and couldn't make up her mind.
"to sell like hot cakes" - "etwas verkaufen wie warme Semmeln"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "verkaufen wie warme Kuchen"
Definition: To sell rapidly and in large quantities.
Example: Our organic products are selling like hot cakes. Nobody wants to risk eating GM food any more.
"to break the ice" - "(mit jemandem) warm werden"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "das Eis brechen"
Definition: To manage to overcome somebody's iniatial shyness or reserve and communicate successfully with them.
Example: Our Japanese guide was pretty reserved, but I finally broke the ice by telling her I'd read a couple of books by Yasunari Kawabata.
"to ride out the storm" - "eine Sache durchstehen"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "den Sturm ausreiten"
Definition: To patiently endure some hardship until it's over.
Example: The cost of living is going up and I'm still earning the same salary. I guess I'll have to ride out the storm and hope for an upturn in the economy.
"the nuts and bolts of something" - "das A und O einer Sache"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "die Buchsen und Bolzen einer Sache"
Definition: The practical details involved in something.
Example: The nuts and bolts of running a company cannot be learned at business school. It only comes with practical experience.
"to be in deep water" - "das Wasser bis zum Hals stehen haben"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "in tiefem Wasser sein"
Definition: To be in an awkward or dire situation.
Example: I'm in deep water- I lost my job and don't know how I'm going to make my mortgage payments.
"to bite somebody's head off" - "jemanden anschnauzen"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "den Kopf von jemand abbeißen"
Definition: To severely reprimand somebody.
Example: When Megan showed up late for work three days in a row, her boss bit her head off.
"to give somebody the thumbs up" - "jemandem sein OK geben"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "jemandem die Daumen hoch zeigen"
Definition: To approve of some activity going ahead; to expess one's agreement and consent.
Example: The bank has given us the thumbs up to buy the new house.
"a couch potato" - "ein Stubenhocker"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "eine Couchkartoffel"
Definition: Somebody who is lazy and only gets involved in events from a passive standpoint.
Example: When some people reach retirement age, they often lose interest in everything and become couch potatoes.
"to eat humble pie" - "kleine Brötchen backen"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "ärmliche Pastete essen"
Definition: To be forced by circumstances to be more humble and less proud.
Example: When the baron was caught on video rubbing shoulders with the two criminals, he was forced to eat humble pie and make a public apology.
"food for thought" - "Stoff zum Nachdenken"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "Futter für Überlegung"
Definition: Something that gives one a lot to think about.
Example: Dr. Spock's new ideas of childcare gave doctors and families much food for thought in the 1950s.
"in a nutshell" - "kurz und bündig"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "in einer Nussschale"
Definition: Said of a concise description summarizing something.
Example: To put it in a nutshell, you'll have to study harder if you want to pass the exams.
"sour grapes" - "Frustriertheit demonstrieren"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "saure Trauben"
Definition: A show of spite or anger caused by jealousy or disappointment.
Example: His early exit was just sour grapes because he was actually furious about not being seated at the main table.
"the icing on the cake" - "das Tüpfelchen auf dem I"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "der Zuckerguss auf dem Kuchen"
Definition: An extra advantage or addtion to an already positive situation.
Example: After the anouncement that the club has made a record profit, the news that we've also been awarded a government subsidy is really the frosting on the cake.
"to nip something in the bud" - "etwas im Keim ersticken"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "etwas in der Knospe kneifen"
Definition: To stop something unacceptable before it gets worse.
Example: I interrupted, and nipped his speech in the bud, before he could insult the visitors.
"to play the fool" - "sich wie ein Narr benehmen"
Wörtl. Übersetzung: "den Narren spielen"
Definition: To do silly things to attract people's attention and/or to make them laugh.
Example: Stop playing the fool, Ron - nobody's impressed by you jumping around on the couch like that.
Melissahoneybe # Friday, February 24, 2006 6:29:52 AM
You've certainly given me 'Stoff zum Nachdenken'.
(I hope that's right)
Gruesse,
Melissa
E. Driver # Friday, February 24, 2006 6:34:45 AM
Liebe Grüße,
Elmar
Bici # Saturday, February 25, 2006 5:01:13 PM
E. Driver # Sunday, February 26, 2006 2:38:29 AM
thanks for your comment here. Feel free to write in German as well!
Good night
Elmar