Hilarious EveryDay German Expressions!

Das ist ein Katzensprung

Literally: That’s a cat’s jump
English Equivalent: It’s a stone’s throw away

Schlafen wie ein Murmeltier

Literally: Sleep like a woodchuck [marmot]
English Equivalent: Sleep like a log

um den heißen Brei herumreden

Literally: to talk around the hot porridge
English Equivalent: to beat around the bush

Da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen

Literally: You can take poison on that
English Equivalent: You can bet your life on that

sich zum Affen machen

Literally: Make an ape of yourself
English Equivalent: Make a fool of yourself

zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen

Literally: kill two flies with one swat
English Equivalent: to kill two birds with one stone

eine Extrawurst haben

Literally: to ask for an extra sausage
English Equivalent: to ask for special treatment

Himmel und Hölle in Bewegung setzen

Literally: put heaven and hell in motion
English Equivalent: to move heaven and earth

Da steppt der Bär

Literally: The bear dances there
English Equivalent: It will be a good party

A similar phrase to this is ‘the burning air’ with an identical meaning:
Da brennt die Luft!

Tomaten auf den Augen haben

Literally: to have tomatoes on one’s eyes
English Equivalent: to be oblivious to what is going around you

den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen

Literally: to hit the nail on the head
English Equivalent: to hit the nail on the head

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof

Literally: I only understand “train station.”
English Equivalent: It’s all Greek to me

weggehen wie warme Semmeln

Literally: Go like warm rolls
English Equivalent: Go or sell like hot cakes

Er muss zu allem seinen Senf dazugeben

Literally: To add your mustard to it
English Equivalent: Give their two cents worth

wie seine Westentasche kennen

Literally: to know something like one’s waistcoat pocket
English Equivalent: to know like the back of one’s hand

Man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben

Literally: Don’t praise the day before the evening.
English Equivalent: Don’t count your chicks before they hatch

ein Ohr abkauen

Literally: to chew someone’s ear off
English Equivalent: to talk someone’s ear off

klar wie Kloßbrühe

Literally: clear as dumpling broth
English Equivalent: crystal clear

dumm wie Bohnenstroh

Literally: as dumb as a bean straw
English Equivalent: as thick as a brick

die Kirche im Dorf lassen

Literally: to leave the church in the village
English Equivalent: to not get carried away

ich habe Schwein gehabt

Literally: I’ve had a pig!
English equivalent: I’ve had a stroke of luck!