German-English Idioms
Idioms/Redewendungen • L
An annotated collection of idioms,
sayings, slang, and proverbs in German
IDIOMS > A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M... | W
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.
L
lachen (laugh) > Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten.
He who laughs last, laughs best.
Land, das (nation) > Andere Länder, andere Sitten.
When in Rome, do as the Romans. ("other lands, other customs")
Laus, die (louse) > Ihm ist eine Laus über die Leber gelaufen.
He's in a bad mood/in ill humor. ("a louse ran across his liver")
Latein, das (Latin) > mit seinem Latein am Ende sein
to be at one's wit's end, to not know what to do
Leber, die (liver) > Ihm ist eine Laus über die Leber gelaufen.
He's in a bad mood/in ill humor. ("a louse ran across his liver")
Leberwurst, die (liverwurst) > die beleidigte Leberwurst spielen
to play the prima donna, to get in a huff ("play the insulted liverwurst")
Lehrgeld, das (tuition) > Lass dir dein Lehrgeld zurückgeben!
Go to the bottom of the class!
Lehrgeld > (teures) Lehrgeld für etwas zahlen müssen
to have to pay dearly for something, to learn something the hard way
Leiche, die (corpse) > eine Leiche im Keller haben
to have a skeleton in the closet ("a body in the basement")
Leiche > über Leichen gehen
to walk over dead bodies, to stop at nothing
Er geht über Leichen.
He'll stop at nothing. He'd sell his own grandmother.
Leiche > wie eine lebende/wandelnde Leiche aussehen
to look like death warmed over
Leier, die (barrel/street organ) > (immer) die alte Leier
(always) the same old story, same old tune
Also see Lied below.
Leim, der (glue, birdlime) > auf den Leim gehen
to be taken in, be fooled/tricked
Leim > jdn auf den Leim führen
to take s.o. in, fool/trick s.o.
Leim > aus dem Leim gehen
to fall apart, get out of shape
Lied, das (song) > (immer) das alte/gleiche Lied
(always) the same old story, same old tune
Similar: die alte Leier/Platte/Walze (street organ/record/cylinder [tune])
Lied > das Ende vom Lied
the upshot, outcome
Das ist dann immer das Ende vom Lied.
It always ends/turns out like that.
Lied > Ich kann auch ein Lied davon singen.
I could tell you a thing or two about that.
Ich weiß auch davon ein Lied zu singen.
I could tell you a thing or two about that.
link (dirty, underhanded) > ein ganz linker Hund
a nasty piece of work, a really bad type, a dirty double-crosser
link > ein ganz linkes Ding drehen
to do something really underhanded, to be up to no good
link (left) > mit dem linken Bein zuerst aufstehen
to get out on the wrong side of of bed
link > Das mache ich mit der linken Hand.
I can do that blindfolded/with my eyes shut. ("with my left hand")
Loch, das (hole) > jdm ein Loch in den Bauch fragen/reden
to pester s.o. to death with questions/comments
Sie redet einem ein Loch in den Bauch.
She could talk the hind legs off a donkey.
Loch > wie ein Loch trinken
to drink like a fish ("like a hole")
Los, das (lottery ticket) > das große Los ziehen
to hit the jackpot, to luck out ("draw the winning ticket")
Luft, die (air) > die Luft ist rein
the coast is clear
Luft > die Luft reinigen
to clear the air
Luft > etwas (dative) Luft machen
to vent about sth, get sth off one's chest
Er hat seinem Ärger Luft gemacht.
He vented his annoyance.
Luft > in der Luft hängen
to be up in the air, be in limbo
Luft > in die Luft gehen/fliegen
to explode, blow up; to blow one's top, go through the roof
Luft > jdn an die (frische) Luft setzen
to show s.o. the door, to send s.o. out of the room
Luft > jdn wie Luft behandeln
to treat s.o. as if he/she doesn't exist
Luft > sich (dat.) Luft machen
to fan oneself
Lupe, die (magnifying glass) > etwas unter die Lupe nehmen
to take a close look at something
IDIOMS > A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M... | W
START > Introduction to this glossary
MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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