German-English Idioms Glossary
Idioms/Redewendungen | Slang • E
An annotated collection of idioms,
sayings, proverbs, and slang in German
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Also see:
> Introduction to this glossary
> Idioms and Sayings: Contents
GLOSSARY GUIDE: To find an idiom, saying, or proverb, look for it alphabetically by key word or key phrase. Example: To find "Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei," you could look under "A" for "alles," "E" for "Ende," or "W" for "Wurst" (when the glossary is complete). All idioms or sayings are listed in German with an English translation. English in parentheses ( ) indicates the literal translation of an expression or proverb.
E
ehe man sich's versieht
before you know it/realize it
Example: "Die Bahnreise ging sehr schnell. Ehe er sich's versah, war er schon da." (The train trip went very fast. Before he knew it, he was there.)
Ehre, dem die Ehre gebührt. (Biblical, Romans 13:7)
(Render) Tribute to whom tribute is due.
Variation: "Ehre, wem Ehre gebührt" (Give credit where credit is due.)
Ehrlich währt am längsten.
Honesty is the best policy.
Opposite: "Der Ehrliche ist der Dumme." (The honest one is the fool/loser.) Also the title of a best-selling book (about the loss of values) by the German news commentator Ulrich Wickert.
ehrlich (honest) > der ehrliche Finder (honest finder)
Der ehrliche Finder bekommt 100 Euro.
The person who finds and returns it will get a reward of 100 euros.
ehrlich (honest) > eine ehrliche Haut (an honest skin)
an honest soul/person
Ei (egg) > das Ei des Kolumbus
an inspired discovery; just the thing; a simple solution to a seemingly difficult problem
Ei > Das Ei will kluger als die Henne sein.
You're trying to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs.
(Don't think you're smarter than your elders.)
Ei > ein Ei legen
to hatch a plan; (vulg.) to take a sh**
Caution: The German word Ei or Eier can have unintended meanings. See Bad Words: German Words to Avoid
Ei > jemanden wie ein rohes Ei behandeln
to handle someone with kid gloves
Eier (eggs) > Kümmere dich nicht um ungelegte Eier.
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them. (Don't worry about unlaid eggs.)
Das sind ungelegte Eier.
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
Caution: The German word Ei or Eier can have unintended meanings. See Bad Words: German Words to Avoid
Eigenlob stinkt.
Don't toot your own horn/blow your own trumpet. (Self-praise stinks.)
Parody: "Eigentor stinkt." (An own goal stinks.)
Eile mit Weile.
Haste makes waste. More haste, less speed. Make haste slowly.
Eimer (bucket, pail) > im Eimer
down the drain, out the window; broken, busted (in the bucket)
Examples: "Weil mein Vater krank wurde, ist unser Urlaub jetzt im Eimer." (Because my dad got sick, our vacation is now down the drain.) - "Unser Fernseher ist im Eimer." (Our TV set is busted/on the fritz.)
einbrocken > Das hast du dir selbst eingebrockt.
You got yourself into this mess. You've only yourself to blame for that.
einbrocken > Was man sich eingebrockt hat, muss man auch auslöffeln.
You've made your bed, now you must lie/sleep in it. You have to dish out what you cooked up.
Eine Hand wäscht die andere.
One hand washes the other. One good turn deserves another.
Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
einen Vogel haben
to be nuts/crazy. (to have a bird [in the head])
Hast du einen Vogel?
Are you nuts/crazy?
Similar: "Bei dir piept's wohl!" (You've got to be kidding! You're not making any sense. - Lit. "you're making peeping noises")
Eine Schwalbe macht noch keinen Sommer.
One swallow does not make a summer. (Also see "Einmal ist keinmal" below.)
Einmal ist keinmal./Ein Mal ist kein Mal.
Once doesn't count. One swallow doesn't make a spring.
Variations: "Eine einzige Nuss rappelt nicht im Sacke." (A single nut doesn't rattle in the sack.) - "Einmal ist keinmal" ("Once is Never" - German film, 1954)
Ein Mann, ein Wort.
A promise is a promise. (One man, one word.)
Parody: "Ein Mann, ein Wort - eine Frau, ein Wörterbuch." (One man, one word - one woman, one dictionary.)
Die Einsamkeit ist die Schule der Weisheit.
Solitude is the school of wisdom.
Eintracht nährt, Unfriede verzehrt.
United we stand, divided we fall. (Harmony nourishes, discord consumes.)
Ein Unglück kommt selten allein.
It never rains but it pours. (Misfortune seldom comes alone.)
Eisen (iron) > Not bricht Eisen.
Necessity is the mother of invention. (Need breaks iron.)
Eisen > Das Eisen schmieden, so lange es heiß ist.
Strike while the iron is hot. Make hay while the sun shines.
Elefant (elephant) > aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen
make a mountain out of a molehill (...an elephant out of a gnat)
Elster (magpie) > Die Elster stiehlt, so gut sie schwatzt.
The magpie steals as well as it chatters.
Variation: "Er/Sie stiehlt wie eine Elster." (He/She is light-fingered. - "steals like a magpie")
Elster (magpie) > Ich habe die Elster vernommen, es werden Gäste kommen.
I heard the magpie; company's coming.
Ende gut, alles gut.
All's well that ends well. (Shakespeare)
Ende (end) > Das dicke Ende kommt noch.
The worst is yet to come. (The thick end is yet to come.)
Ende (end) > das Ende vom Lied (end of the song)
the upshot, when all is/was said and done, the bottom line
Es hofft der Mensch so lang er lebt.
While there is life there is hope.
Es ist kein Baum, der nicht zuvor ein Sträuchlein gewesen.
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Great things start with small beginnings. (Every tree was once a sprig.)
Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.
All that glitters is not gold.
Es ist noch kein Meister vom Himmel gefallen.
You can't always expect to get it right the first time. No man was born a master. (No master craftsman ever just fell from the sky.)
Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird.
Nothing is ever as bad as it seems. (Nothing is eaten as eagerly as it's cooked.)
Variations: "Das wird nicht so heiß gegessen wie gekocht." (That's/It's not as bad as it seems.)
essen (eat) > See "Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen, wie..." above.
Eulen nach Athen tragen
to take coals to Newcastle, sell refrigerators to Eskimos
Variation: "Wasser in den Rhein bringen" (to put water in the Rhine)
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MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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