German-English Idioms
Idioms/Redewendungen • G
An annotated collection of idioms,
sayings, slang, and proverbs 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.
G
ganz (whole) > aufs Ganze gehen
to go all out, go whole hog
Gärtner (gardener) > den Bock zum Gärtner machen
to be asking for trouble (turn the goat into the gardener)
to have the fox guarding the henhouse
Geld, das (money) > Geld wie Heu haben
to have gobs/pots of money
Geld zum Fenster hinauswerfen
to pour money down the drain ("throw out the window"), waste money
Gesicht, das (face) > (jemandem) ein Gesicht schneiden
to make a face (at someone)
gestern (yesterday) > Das ist Schnee von gestern.
That's old news. That's old hat.
gestern > nicht von gestern sein
to not be born yesterday
Ich bin nicht von gestern.
I wasn't born yesterday.
gewinnen (gain, win) > Wie gewonnen, so zerronnen.
Easy come, easy go.
Gift, das (poison) > Darauf kannst du Gift nehmen.
You can bet/stake your life on it. (...take poison on it)
Glatteis, das (black ice) > jemanden aufs Glatteis führen
to take someone for a ride, to lead someone down the garden path
gleich (similar) > Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Gleis (track) > aufs tote Gleis kommen
to hit/come to a dead end
Glück (luck) > auf gut Glück
on the off-chance, at random, trusting to luck
Glück > Glück im Unglück
good luck in misfortune
Sie hat Glück im Unglück gehabt.
It could have been much worse for her.
Glück > in Glück und Unglück
in good times and bad
Gold > Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt.
All that glitters is not gold.
Gott (God) > Grüß Gott!
Hello! (in Austria, Bavaria)
Gott > Was Gott zusammengefügt hat, soll der Mensch nicht scheiden.
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder.
Gott > wie Gott in Frankreich leben
to live very well, live the life of Riley (...like God in France)
Gras (grass) > ins Gras beissen
to bite the dust, die (bite the grass)
grob (rough) > aus dem Gröbsten heraus sein
to be out of the woods, see light at the end of the tunnel
Groschen (old coin) > der Groschen ist gefallen
the penny dropped, the light came on (i.e., I get it now)
grottenschlecht (adj.)
the worst (thing) in the world, the worst of the worst
grün (green) > ins Grüne fahren
to go/drive to the country
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MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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