This quiz was based on Idioms and Proverbs Glossary. You should have reviewed that glossary and related lessons before taking this quiz.
CORRECT ANSWERS
1. Ein Unglück kommt selten allein. (a misfortune seldom comes alone)
D. It never rains but it pours.
2. Du bringst doch Wasser in den Rhein. (take water to the Rhine)
E. You seem to be bringing coals to Newcastle.
3. Du kannst mir das Wasser nicht reichen. (you can't hand me the water)
I. You can't hold a candle to me.
4. Der Apfel fällt nicht weit vom Stamm. (the apple doesn't fall far from the tree)
B. Like father, like son.
5. Das dicke Ende kommt noch. (the thick end)
G. The worst is yet to come.
6. Du sollst die Kirche im Dorf lassen. (leave the church in the villlage)
H. You shouldn't get carried away.
7. Du sollst dich nicht für dumm verkaufen. (not let yourself be sold/taken for dumb)
C. Don't let them take you for a fool.
8. Man soll das Fell des Bären nicht verteilen, bevor man ihn erlegt hat. (don't hand out the bear skin before you've killed the bear)
A. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
9. Das ist nicht dein Bier. (that's not your beer)
L. That's none of your business.
10. Was man sich eingebrockt hat, muss man auch auslöffeln. (you have to spoon out what you've crumbled [into the soup])
F. You've made your bed, now lie in it.
Not used:
J. Out of sight, out of mind.
(Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn.)
K. You'll just have to bite the bullet.
(In den sauren Apfel beißen.)
BACK > Proverb Quiz 2
QUESTIONS about this quiz? Post them in the German Forum!
Proverbs Quiz 1
Try this additional quiz.
Too Literal Quiz
Another English-German idiom quiz based on the article Taking Things Too Literally.
Related Pages
Idioms and Proverbs Glossary
An annotated German-English lexicon of sayings, idioms, and proverbs.
Idioms: Talk Like a German
About German idioms and how they may differ from their English equivalents.
Farbenfroh: Colorful Expressions
German idioms and expressions that include a color. An article from your Guide.
Proverbs and Idioms
Favorite sayings and expressions sent in by our readers.
Taking Things Too Literally
A related article and quiz.
False Friends/Falsche Freunde
About those tricky false cognates in German and English.
Idioms: Talk Like a German
A feature about German idioms and how they often differ from English. From your Guide.
Zitat des Tages
On our "German Quote of the Day" page you'll find a new German quotation each day.
Wort des Tages
Learn a new word or phrase each day on our "German Word of the Day" page.
German Newsletters
Subscribe to a free newsletter!
OUR GERMAN FORUMS