A Sausage Moment at Work
One day at work, I asked a colleague, “Do you prefer option A or B?” He replied, “Das ist mir Wurst.”
I was confused because Wurst means sausage in German. I thought, “Why is he talking about sausage when I’m asking which option he wants?” Then, my whole team burst into laughter. It turns out, “Das ist mir Wurst” has nothing to do with sausage! It actually means, “Es ist mir egal” – “I don’t care!” or “It doesn’t matter.”
Das ist mir Wurst = I don’t care / It doesn’t matter
Since that moment, I’ve been fascinated by German idioms. My colleagues know how much I enjoy learning them, so they often teach me more fun phrases.
Idioms in Everyday Conversations
Da ist der Wurm drin
One Monday, a colleague was frustrated because a software program wouldn’t start. She turned to me and said: “Thi, the idiom for this situation is ‘Da ist der Wurm drin.’”
This idiom originates from the idea of a worm spoiling a piece of fruit. When Germans say this, they mean, “Something’s wrong, something’s not working.”
Da ist der Wurm drin = Something’s wrong / Something’s not working
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
Another favorite idiom is “Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.” This expression dates back to World War I, when soldiers, exhausted from battle, wanted to go home. The train station (Bahnhof) was the only way to get there, so everything else became meaningless. They would say, “I only understand train station!”
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof = I don’t understand anything
Using Idioms to Break the Ice
One of my most memorable experiences with idioms happened during a meeting. I was the only Vietnamese person in the room, surrounded by German colleagues. At the start of the meeting, everyone exchanged greetings. When someone asked, “Wie geht es dir?” (“How are you?”), I responded confidently:
“Ich bin fit wie ein Turnschuh.”
This idiom translates to “I’m as fit as a sneaker.” A Turnschuh is a durable, flexible sports shoe, and the phrase means you feel healthy and full of energy. The room burst into laughter—not because I made a mistake but because a foreigner using German idioms was so unexpected.
Ich bin fit wie ein Turnschuh = I’m very fit, energetic, and in good shape
At the end of the meeting, the department head approached me and said: “Thi, when a German uses that phrase, it’s normal. But when a non-native speaker like you says it, it’s surprising and funny. It lightens the mood and acts as a great icebreaker. From now on, I’ll teach you more idioms to ‘show off’ in the office!”
A Growing Collection of German Idioms
Vom Hocker fallen
This idiom means “to be extremely surprised,” like falling off a stool from shock. For example, if you hear some shocking news, you might say:
“Ich bin vom Hocker gefallen.”
Vom Hocker fallen = To be extremely surprised
Jemandem die Daumen drücken
This is the German equivalent of “I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!” Instead of crossing fingers, Germans “press their thumbs” to wish someone good luck. When a colleague says, “Ich drücke dir die Daumen,” it’s a way of showing support.
Jemandem die Daumen drücken = I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you
Why Idioms Matter
Each time I use one of these phrases, it sparks smiles and laughter from my colleagues. It’s a small way of connecting with the culture while leaving a positive impression. Idioms add a touch of humor and personality to conversations, making interactions more memorable.
Share Your Idioms!
Do you know any fun idioms from German or another language? Share them in the comments—I’d love to learn more!
0 Comments