Redewendungen: Common German Idioms, Sayings and Proverbs

A German Redewendung is a fixed expression whose meaning often cannot be understood by translating every word literally. If someone says Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof, they are probably not talking about trains. They mean: I don’t understand anything.

Expressions like these are everywhere in conversations, films, news, work and everyday life. Learning them helps you understand German as people actually use it.

What is a Redewendung?

A Redewendung is a relatively fixed combination of words, often with a figurative meaning.

For example:

Tomaten auf den Augen haben
Literally: to have tomatoes on your eyes
Meaning: to fail to notice something obvious

The literal translation sounds strange, but German speakers understand the expression as a whole.

In English, idiom or idiomatic expression is often the closest practical equivalent. The linguistic categories are not perfectly identical, but the terms overlap enough to be useful for learners.

Redewendung, saying or proverb — are they the same?

Not exactly.

• Redewendung / Redensart: a fixed expression, often used as part of a sentence → ins Fettnäpfchen treten
• Sprichwort (proverb): usually a complete sentence expressing a general observation or piece of wisdom → Übung macht den Meister.
• Floskel: a conventional phrase with a social function that is not necessarily figurative → Wie geht’s?

In everyday speech these labels are often used loosely. For learners, the most important questions are simpler: What does the expression mean, and when does it sound natural?

Why German idioms matter when you learn the language

You can know the grammar of a sentence and still miss its meaning if you interpret every phrase literally.

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) explicitly includes idiomatic and colloquial expressions in advanced vocabulary range. At C1, learners are expected to have good command of common idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms; C2 requires even broader and more nuanced control.

You do not need to wait until C1 to start learning them. Many everyday Redewendungen are useful much earlier — especially when you learn them inside a normal sentence.

15 common German idioms and their meanings

1. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.

Meaning: I don’t understand anything. Example: Kannst du mir die Steuererklärung erklären? Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof.

2. Tomaten auf den Augen haben

Meaning: to miss something obvious. Example: Der Schlüssel lag direkt vor mir. Ich hatte wohl Tomaten auf den Augen.

3. Jemandem die Daumen drücken

Meaning: to wish someone good luck; literally “press your thumbs”. Example: Du hast morgen deine Prüfung? Ich drücke dir die Daumen!

4. Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen

Meaning: to be exactly right; similar to “hit the nail on the head”. Example: Mit deiner Analyse hast du den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen.

5. Um den heißen Brei herumreden

Meaning: to avoid getting to the point; beat around the bush. Example: Sag einfach, was passiert ist, und rede nicht um den heißen Brei herum.

6. Zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen

Meaning: to achieve two things with one action. Example: Ich fahre mit dem Rad zur Arbeit und mache dabei Sport — zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.

7. Auf dem Holzweg sein

Meaning: to be mistaken or on the wrong track. Example: Wenn du glaubst, der Kurs beginnt am Montag, bist du auf dem Holzweg.

8. Ins Fettnäpfchen treten

Meaning: to say or do something unintentionally awkward or embarrassing. Example: Ich habe nach seinem alten Job gefragt und bin direkt ins Fettnäpfchen getreten.

9. Schwein haben

Meaning: to be lucky. Example: Wir haben den letzten Zug noch bekommen — da hatten wir echt Schwein.

10. Eine Extrawurst bekommen

Meaning: to receive special treatment or an exception. Example: Für ihn gelten dieselben Regeln. Er bekommt keine Extrawurst.

11. Das ist nicht mein Bier.

Meaning: that’s not my problem/business. Example: Wie die beiden das organisieren, ist nicht mein Bier.

12. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen

Meaning: to keep things in proportion and not exaggerate. Example: Der Fehler ist ärgerlich, aber lass mal die Kirche im Dorf.

13. Etwas auf die lange Bank schieben

Meaning: to keep postponing something. Example: Ich will die Anmeldung nicht länger auf die lange Bank schieben.

14. Aus allen Wolken fallen

Meaning: to be completely surprised. Example: Als sie die Nachricht hörte, fiel sie aus allen Wolken.

15. Etwas im Griff haben

Meaning: to have something under control. Example: Am Anfang war die Grammatik schwierig, aber jetzt habe ich sie im Griff.

How to learn idioms without forgetting them

Long lists are rarely the best method. Try this instead:

1. Learn the expression + meaning + one natural example sentence together. 2. Notice it in a real conversation, podcast or series. 3. Make one example of your own. 4. Check whether it sounds neutral, informal, regional or old-fashioned. 5. Use it actively only once you understand its tone.

With idioms, context matters more than a perfect word-for-word translation.

Redewendungen make your German more natural

Using den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen or jemandem die Daumen drücken correctly does not magically make you sound native — but it does make your German more idiomatic.

More importantly, it helps you understand other people. Fixed expressions are a normal part of everyday German, not decorative extras.

Sources

• Council of Europe – CEFR, qualitative aspects of spoken language: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/table-3-cefr-3.3-common-reference-levels-qualitative-aspects-of-spoken-language-use
• Council of Europe – CEFR descriptors / vocabulary range: https://www.coe.int/en/web/common-european-framework-reference-languages/cefr-descriptors