German expressions quiz
Your textbook never taught you these.
Could you keep up at the bakery, in a beer garden, on a date or with friends? Let’s see how many of these you’d catch.
10 expressionsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutesno sign-up
Word for word: “I only understand train station”
So what does it really mean? Tap an answer to start.
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German expressions quiz
The 10 expressions in this quiz
Word for word, they make no sense. Here’s what people in Germany, Austria and Switzerland actually mean by them.
Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof
BeginnerWord for word: “I only understand train station”
It’s all Greek to me
Er hat mir das Steuersystem erklärt, aber ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. He explained the tax system to me, but it’s all Greek to me.
With friendsjemandem die Daumen drücken
BeginnerWord for word: “to press the thumbs for someone”
To keep your fingers crossed
Du hast morgen die Prüfung? Ich drücke dir die Daumen. Your exam’s tomorrow? I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.
Fine at workDas ist nicht mein Bier
BeginnerWord for word: “that’s not my beer”
That’s not my problem
Wenn er sich mit seinem Chef streitet, ist das nicht mein Bier. If he’s arguing with his boss, that’s not my problem.
With friendsTomaten auf den Augen haben
IntermediateWord for word: “to have tomatoes on your eyes”
To miss the obvious
Der Schlüssel liegt direkt vor dir. Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen? The key’s right in front of you. Can’t you see it?
With friendsdie Nase voll haben
IntermediateWord for word: “to have your nose full”
To be fed up
Seit zwei Wochen nur Regen. Ich habe die Nase voll. Nothing but rain for two weeks. I’m fed up.
With friendsSchwein haben
IntermediateWord for word: “to have pig”
To be lucky
Wir waren zu spät am Gleis, aber wir hatten Schwein: Der Zug hatte Verspätung. We got to the platform late, but we were lucky: the train was delayed.
With friendsins Fettnäpfchen treten
IntermediateWord for word: “to step into the little pot of fat”
To put your foot in it
Ich habe sie nach ihrem Mann gefragt und bin voll ins Fettnäpfchen getreten: Die beiden sind seit Monaten getrennt. I asked her about her husband and really put my foot in it: they split up months ago.
Fine at workDas ist mir wurst
AdvancedWord for word: “that’s sausage to me”
I don’t care either way
Pizza oder Pasta? Das ist mir wurst, ich habe einfach Hunger. Pizza or pasta? I don’t care either way, I’m just hungry.
With friendsDas kannst du deiner Oma erzählen!
AdvancedWord for word: “you can tell that to your grandma!”
I don’t believe a word of it
Du warst die ganze Nacht im Büro? Das kannst du deiner Oma erzählen! You were at the office all night? Pull the other one.
With friendskeinen Bock haben
AdvancedWord for word: “to have no billy goat”
To not feel like it (slang)
Heute Abend noch ins Kino? Ehrlich gesagt hab ich keinen Bock. Cinema tonight? Honestly, I don’t feel like it.
With friends
Questions
Are these expressions still used?
Yes, every day. The quiz leaves out anything dated or crude, and every answer tells you where it’s safe to say: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided.
Why does the quiz go from beginner to advanced?
The first three are common and you’ll hear them early on. The last three need nuance, like sarcasm or mood, which is where most learners lose the thread.
What do I get if I unlock the 15?
A free deck with all 25 expressions, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 15 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.
Do people in Austria and Switzerland say these too?
Yes. Every expression here is standard German, understood in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Each country has its own local sayings on top, but these work everywhere.