German-English Glossary
Idioms / Redewendungen • P
An annotated collection of idioms, sayings, and proverbs in German
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Also see:
> Introduction to this expressions 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.
P
Palme (palm) > jemanden auf die Palme bringen
to drive someone up the wall
to make someone's blood boil
MORE > jemanden auf die Palme bringen (German expressions)
Pantoffel (house slipper) > unter dem Pantoffel stehen
to be henpecked ("stand under the slipper")
Pantoffelheld ("slipper hero") > ein Pantoffelheld sein
to be henpecked
Pappenheimer (name) > seine Pappenheimer kennen
to know something/someone very well / inside out
Example: "Wir kennen unsere Pappenheimer." (We know them / that lot inside out.)
Pauke (kettledrum) > auf die Pauke hauen
to paint the town red (celebrate, "beat the drum")
to blow / toot one's own horn
Pauke > mit Pauken und Trompeten durchfallen
to fail gloriously, be a magnificent failure, go down with flying colors, go out with guns blazing ("go down with drums and trumpets")
Pech (tar pitch) > Pech haben
have bad luck
Pech > großes Pech
rotten / terrible luck
Examples: "Pech gehabt!" (Tough luck!)
"Sein Pech!" (That's his tough luck!)
Pechvogel ("pitch bird") unlucky devil; walking disaster area
Perlen (pearls) > Perlen vor die Säue werfen
to cast pearls before swine
Pferd (horse) > Das hält ja kein Pferd aus.
That's more than flesh and blood can stand. ("Not even a horse can endure that.")
Pferd > das Pferd beim / vom Schwanz aufzäumen
to put the cart before the horse ("to bridle the horse by the tail")
Pfifferling (chanterelle, mushroom) > Das ist keinen Pfifferling wert.
That's not worth a plug nickel. (Am)
That's not worth a bean. (Br)
Pfifferling > Sie kümmern sich keinen Pfifferling um ihre Kinder.
They don't give a damn about their kids. (They couldn't care less about...)
Prophet (prophet) > Beim Bart des Propheten!
Honest to God! ("by the beard of the prophet")
Prophet > Der Prophet gilt nichts im eigenen Land. (Sprichwort)
Alternate > Der Prophet gilt nichts in seinem Vaterland. (Sprichwort)
A prophet is without honor in his own land / country. (proverb)
A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country. (Bible Matthew 13:57)
Pulver (powder) > Er hat das Pulver nicht gerade erfunden.
He'll never set the world on fire. ("...didn't exactly invent gunpowder")
He's not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Punkt (point, dot) > ein wunder Punkt
a sore point
Punkt (point, dot) > auf den toten Punkt kommen
to come to / reach a dead end
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START > Introduction to this glossary
MORE > Idioms and Sayings: Contents
Idioms and Sayings: Contents
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