Idioms – those colourful phrases that don’t always translate directly very well, but which add interest to our speech and show that we aren’t just stuck with the formal language taught in school.
It can be tricky to learn idioms in a classroom environment, at least partly because it is hard to remember phrases that come without context. Some teachers therefore prefer to either group the idioms by theme, or to teach a small selection within a particular setting. Do remember that context is everything. Using too many idioms all at once can make your meaning unclear, so try to use them sparingly.
Our gift to you this month – 8 German idioms which are all to do with sausages!
- Das ist mir Wurst. Direct translation: that is sausage to me. Hidden meaning: I don’t care. It’s not important to me.
- Es geht um die Wurst. Direct translation: it’s about the sausage. Meaning: It’s a really important thing.
- Die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen. Direct translation: to play the offended/huffy liver sausage. Meaning: to sulk
- Alles hat ein Ende nur die Wurst hat zwei. Direct translation: Everything has an end, only the sausage has two. Meaning: Everything comes to an end.
- Du armes Würstchen. Direct: You poor little sausage. Meaning: This expression shows sympathy, sometimes ironic, for someone in an uncomfortable situation.
- Eine Extrawurst verlangen. Direct: to demand a pork sausage. Meaning: The Extrawurst is a special treat kind of sausage. So, this means to ask for special treatment.
- In der Not schmeckt die Wurst auch ohne Brot. Direct translation: In an emergency the sausage tastes good even without bread. Meaning: in hardship you can make do without some things.
- Sein Senf dazu geben. Direct translation: to add one’s mustard to it (after all, every Wurst needs a bit of mustard!). Meaning: to add one’s opinion, even if it is not wanted.
I hope you have fun with these. If you would like to find more German idioms, try looking for those which include the “Fuß” (foot) or the one with the old Swedish man “Alter Schwede”!