German-English Idioms Glossary
Idioms - Redewendungen • H
An annotated collection of idioms, sayings, and proverbs in German
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> Introduction to this glossary
> Idioms and Sayings: Contents
Also see English to German Idioms Glossary
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.
H
Haar (hair) > ein Haar in der Suppe
something to quibble/moan/complain about; a fly in the ointment ("hair in the soup")
Examples: "Er findet immer ein Haar in der Suppe." (He always finds something to complain about/a fly in the ointment.) - "Das ist das einzige Haar in der Suppe." (That's the only fly in the ointment.)
Haar (hair) > Ich lasse mir keine grauen Haare darüber wachsen.
I'm not going to lose any sleep over it. ("let gray hairs grow over it")
Haar (hair) > jemandem aufs Haar gleichen
to be the spitting image of someone; resemble to a T ("resemble to a hair")
Examples: "Du gleichst ihm aufs Haar." (You're his spitting image.) - "Sie gleichen sich aufs Haar." (They closely resemble each other/are the spitting image of each other.)
Haar > More "hair" expressions in German...
Das ist an den Haaren herbeigezogen. = That's a bit far-fetched.
kein gutes Haar an jemandem/etwas lassen = to pick someone/something to pieces; have nothing good to say about someone/something
Mir standen die Haare zu Berge. = My hair stood on end.
um ein Haar = by a hair, by a hair's breadth, by a whisker
sich (dat.) in den Haaren liegen = to be at loggerheads, be at odds
Hahn im Korb sein/der Hahn im Korb sein
to be the cock of the walk; be one who dominates a group/situation, esp. overbearingly; a man surrounded by women
Anna sieht es gar nicht gern, dass ihr Karl überall Hahn im Korb ist.
Anna is not at all happy about her Karl always being the center of attention among women.
Hahn > Danach kräht kein Hahn mehr.
No one gives a hoot about that anymore. (no rooster crows about that...)
Haken (hook) > Die Sache hat einen Haken.
There's a catch/snag. There's a fly in the ointment.
Hals und Beinbruch!
Break a leg! (an ironic expression wishing good luck)
Hals über Kopf
in a mad rush; in a big hurry
Hals (neck) > etwas in den falschen Hals kriegen
to take something the wrong way ("down the wrong pipe')
Example: "Sie hat meine Worte in den falschen Hals gekriegt. So hab' ich das nicht gemeint." (She took what I said the wrong way. I didn't mean it that way.)
Variation: etwas in die falsche Kehle kriegen
Hand (hand) > Das liegt auf der Hand.
That's obvious. ("lies on the hand")
Hand (hand) > für jemanden/etwas die Hand abhacken lassen
to stake one's life on someone/something ("let the hand be cut off for")
Hand (hand) > sich mit Händen und Füßen gegen etwas wehren
to fight something tooth and nail ("with hands and feet")
Hand (hand) > weder Hand noch Fuß haben
to not make any sense, not add up
Handumdrehen (turn of the hand) > im Handumdrehen
in a flash; in the wink of an eye
Haussegen (house blessing) > der Haussegen hängt schief
the marriage is in trouble; (s.o) is in the doghouse
Bei ihm hängt der Haussegen schief.
He's in the doghouse.
Bei Karen und Mack hängt der Haussegen schief.
Karen and Mack's marriage is on the rocks/in trouble.
Wenn der Haussegen schief hängt, ...
When a marriage is in trouble, ...
Haut (skin) > Ich möchte nicht in ihrer Haut stecken.
I wouldn't want to be in her shoes.
Hering (herring) > gedrängt wie die Heringe/Sardinen
packed (in) like sardines
Herz (heart) > ein Herz und eine Seele sein
to be the best of friends/bosom buddies/close pals ("one heart and soul")
Herz (heart) > etwas auf dem Herzen haben
to have something on one's mind ("on the heart")
Herz (heart) > jemandem fällt/rutscht das Herz in die Hose
be scared to death; have one's heart in one's mouth; one's heart sinks into one's boots ("falls into one's pants")
Example: "Als es krachte, fiel mir das Herz in die Hose." (When there was a loud bang, my heart was in my mouth.)
Heu (hay) > Geld wie Heu haben
to have loads of/pots of money; be loaded (with dough)
hinter den Kulissen
behind the scenes
hinter die Kulissen sehen
to look behind the scenes
Hochzeit (wedding) > Man kann nicht auf zwei Hochzeiten tanzen.
You can't be in two places at the same time. You can't have your cake and eat it, too. ("You can't dance at two weddings.")
Holzweg (lumbering road) > Da bist du auf dem Holzweg.
You're barking up the wrong tree. You've got another think coming.
Honiglecken (licking honey) > Das ist kein Honiglecken.
It's no bed of roses/no picnic.
Hopfen (hops) > Beim ihm/ihr ist Hopfen und Malz verloren.
He's/She's a dead loss/hopeless. He's/She's such a loser.
Hose (pants) > Das ist Jacke wie Hose.
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. It makes no difference. ("jacket or pants," i.e., made of the same material) - Also see hupfen below.
Hose (pants) > jemandem fällt/rutscht das Herz in die Hose
be scared to death; have one's heart in one's mouth; one's heart sinks into one's boots ("falls into one's pants") - See Herz above.
Hund (dog) > bekannt wie ein bunter Hund
well known, known all over ("like a colorful dog")
Hund (dog) > Bellende Hunde beißen nicht.
Barking dogs don't bite.
Hund (dog) > Da liegt der Hund begraben.
That's the crux/heart of the matter.
Origin: The expression really has nothing to do with dogs. It goes back to an old German word for "treasure": die hunde. So the phrase actually means "that's where the treasure's buried."
Hund (dog) > vor die Hunde gehen
to go to the dogs; go to rack and ruin
hupfen (hop) > Das ist gehupft wie gesprungen.
It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. It makes no difference. ("hopped or jumped")
Similar: "Das ist Jacke wie Hose."
Hüte deine Zunge!
Guard your tongue! Watch what you say!
hüten (tend) > das Bett/Haus hüten müssen
to be confined to bed/at home; have to stay in bed/at home
Example: "Er ist krank und muss das Bett hüten." (He's sick and has to stay in bed.)
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Also see English to German Idioms Glossary
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MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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