German-English Glossary
Idioms/Redewendungen • W
An annotated collection of idioms, sayings, and proverbs in German
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> 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.
W
Wahrheit > Im Wein liegt die Wahrheit.
In wine lies the truth.
Variations: "Wahrheit steckt in dir, O Wein!" - "In vino veritas." (Lat.)
wanken > ins Wanken bringen
to make (government, institution) shaky/totter
wanken > ins Wanken kommen/geraten
to start shaking, start tottering
wanken > nicht wanken und nicht weichen
to not budge an inch
Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen.
Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Similar: "Morgen, morgen, nur nicht heute, sagen alle faulen Leute." (Tomorrow, tomorrow, just not today, that's what all the lazy people say.)
Was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß.
What you don't know won't hurt you.
Was ist schon dabei?
What of it? What does it matter?
Was man sich eingebrockt hat, muss man auch auslöffeln.
You've made your bed, now you must lie in it. As you have brewed, so must you drink.
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Your day will come. (What isn't, still can be.)
Was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
Was man wünscht, glaubt man gern.
People believe what they want to believe.
Wasser (water) > jemandem das Wasser nicht reichen können
to not be able to hold a candle to someone; not be in the same league as someone
Examples: "Du kannst ihm das Wasser nicht reichen." (You're just not in the same league he is.) - "'All Things Must Pass' war eine musikalische Sternstunde. An Tiefe, Kraft und Glanz konnte ihr kein anderes Post-Beatles-Werk das Wasser reichen." (...was a musical landmark. For depth, strength, and sparkle, no other post-Beatles work could hold a candle to it.) - Katja Preissner, "Nachruf auf George Harrison"
Wecker (alarm clock) > Das geht/Du gehst mir auf den Wecker!
That is/You are driving me up the wall! ...getting on my nerves!
weder Hand noch Fuß haben
to make no sense at all (to have neither hand nor foot)
Wein (wine) > Im Wein liegt die Wahrheit.
In wine lies the truth. (Lat. In vino veritas)
Wein > jemandem reinen Wein einschenken
to come clean with someone, to be honest with someone (pour someone pure wine)
Wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen.
In for a penny, in for a pound. If you start something, you have to finish it. (If you say A, then you also have to say B.)
Variation: "Wer A sagt, muss nicht B sagen. Er kann auch erkennen, dass A falsch war." (He who says A doesn't have to say B. He can also recognize that A was false.) - Bertolt Brecht
Wer Bären fangen will, muss sich mit Honig versehen.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. (To catch bears you need honey.)
Variation: "Mit Speck fängt man Mäuse." (You catch mice with bacon.)
Wer das Feuer scheut, muss kein Schmied werden.
If you can't stand the heat, stay out of the kitchen. (He who's afraid of fire shouldn't become a blacksmith.)
Wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert.
Take care of the pence/pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Wer die Wahl hat, hat die Qual.
He who has a choice has torture. So many choices, so little time.
Variation: "Die Qual der Wahl" (the torture of choosing)
Wer Feuer frißt, scheißt Funken.
Don't be surprised if it comes back to bite/haunt you. Taking risks has its consequences. (He who eats fire s**ts sparks.)
Variation: "Wer Feuer frißt, läßt Funken fahren." (...lets sparks fly.)
Wer nicht wagt, gewinnt nicht.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.
Wer rastet, der rostet. (He who rests, rusts.)
Use it or lose it. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Parody: "Wer rast, rostet nicht." (He who drives fast, doesn't rust. rasen = to speed)
Wer weiß, warum die Gänse barfuß gehen.
It's anybody's guess. Who knows why. (Who knows why the geese go barefoot.)
Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst.
First come, first served. (He who comes first, grinds first.)
Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten.
He who laughs last, laughs best.
Variation: "Wer zuletzt liebt, liebt am besten." (She who loves last, loves best.) - Book title
Wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing.
He who pays the piper, calls the tune. (Whose bread I eat, his song I sing.)
Wespennest (wasp's nest) > in ein Wespennest stechen
to stir up a hornet's nest
Wie du mir, so ich dir.
Tit for tat. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
Wie gewonnen, so zerronnen.
Easy come, easy go.
wo der Kaiser zu Fuß hingeht (da, wo...; der Ort, wo...)
the loo, the facilities, restroom, toilet (where the emperor goes on foot)
Example: "Es gibt aber immer noch viele Leute, die in der täglichen Zeitung mehr sehen als die Unterlage für den Vogelkäfig oder das Papier für den Ort, wo der Kaiser zu Fuß hingeht."EUPHEMISMS for die Toilette/das Klo/das WC or "I gotta go" include: "das stille Örtchen," "wo der König allein hingeht," "ich muss mal," "ich muss wohin."
Wo drückt es dich denn?
What's on your mind? What's bothering you? (Where is it pressing you?)
wo sich die Füchse gute Nacht sagen
out in the middle of nowhere, in the back of beyond (where the foxes say good night)
Variation: wo sich Hase und Fuchs gute Nacht sagen
Würfel (dice) > Die Würfel sind gefallen.
The die is cast. The decision has been made. (The dice have fallen.)
Wurst (sausage) > Alles hat ein Ende, nur die Wurst hat zwei.
Everything has an end. Only the sausage has two.
Parodies: "Alles hat ein Ende, nur der Durst hat keins." - "Alles hat ein Ende, nur Weihnachten nicht." - "Alles hat ein Ende, nur dieser Film hat zwei."
Wurst (sausage) > Es geht um die Wurst/Wurscht.
It's do or die. It's now or never/the moment of truth.
Variations: "Es geht um jede Stimme." (it's about every vote) - "Es geht um die Gesundheit." (it's a matter of health) - "Es geht um die Zukunft." (it's about the future)
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