Idioms/Redewendungen • B
English to German: An annotated collection of
idioms, sayings, and proverbs in German
Also see the articles on idioms listed on the Idioms and Sayings: Contents page.
GLOSSARY GUIDE: To find an idiom, saying, or proverb, look for it alphabetically by key word or key phrase. Example: To find "to kill two birds with one stone," you could look under "B" for "birds," "K" for "kill," or "S" for "stone" (when the glossary is complete). All idioms or sayings are listed in English with a German translation.
B
bad > Things are never as bad as they seem.
Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird.
bag > to let the cat out of the bag
die Katze aus dem Sack lassen
bark > His bark is worse than his bite.
Bellende Hunde beißen nicht.
bark > to bark up the wrong tree
auf dem Holzweg sein
Barking dogs don't/seldom bite.
Bellende Hunde beißen nicht.
Beat it! / Get lost!
Mach die Fliege! / Hau ab!
bed > You've made your bed, now lie in it.
Wie man sich bettet, so liegt man.
beer > First beer then wine is fine,
but wine then beer, oh dear!
Wein auf Bier, das rat ich dir,
Bier auf Wein, das lass sein.
Beggars can't be choosers.
In der Not schmeckt jedes Brot.
Better late than never. (…but better never late)
Lieber spät als nie. (…aber lieber nie zu spät)
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Vorsicht vor falschen Freunden. (Beware of false friends.)
> More about this idiom in Greeks Bearing Gifts
Beware of the dog!
Vorsicht! Bissiger Hund!
bird > A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Besser/Lieber den Spatz in der Hand als die Taube auf dem Dach.
bird > The early bird catches the worm.
Morgenstund' hat Gold im Mund.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Gleich und Gleich gesellt sich gern.
birds > to kill two birds with one stone
zwei Fliegen mit einem Schlag treffen (see Section F)
zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen (see Section F)
Das ist alles für die Katz. (see Section K)
bite the bullet
in den sauren Apfel beißen (see Section A)
bite the dust
ins Gras beißen
bitten > Once bitten, twice shy.
Gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer.
bitter pill > to swallow the bitter pill
die bittere Pille schlucken
black and white > to be (right there) in black and white
schwarz auf weiß stehen
blessed > It's more blessed to give than receive.
Geben ist seliger denn Nehmen.
blue moon > once in a blue moon
nur alle Jubeljahre (einmal) (see Section A)
Brevity is the soul of wit.
In der Kürze liegt die Würze.
bridge > Don't cross your bridges until you come to them.
Kümmere dich nicht um ungelegte Eier. ("don't worry about unlaid eggs")
broom > A new broom sweeps clean.
Neue Besen kehren gut.
broth > Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Viele Köche verderben den Brei.
budge > not budge an inch
nicht wanken und nicht weichen (see Section W)
Business before pleasure.
Erst die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen.
but > No ifs, ands, or buts!
Kein Aber! (see Section A)
buy > to buy a pig in a poke
die Katze im Sack kaufen
by the skin of one's teeth
mit Ach und Krach (see Section A)
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IDIOMS > German Idioms and Sayings
MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
QUIZ > German Proverb Quiz 1
Doch! …and Other Tricky Words
German particles like doch can have many meanings. It all depends on the context and your mastery of these small words that can cause big problems. Learn the idiomatic uses of particles!
False Friends/Falsche Freunde
About those tricky false cognates in German and English.
More English-German Glossaries
Annotated glossaries on many topics. From your Guide.
Wort des Tages
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