I know that “Löcher in den Bauch fragen” means “to ask too many questions”, but I really can’t imagine the origin. Maybe because too many questions are annoying like a hole in the belly?
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It sounds like a torturing method. Someone asks questions and if they don't get answers, they'll cutting your belly open.... I really hope this is not the true origin!– IrisApr 28, 2016 at 7:27
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1 Answer
The usage of Loch to illustrate damage is known to be used in the context of letters or speech as early as in the 15th Century where the Grimms quote Johann Geiler von Keisersberg:
es sei kein Brief so gut, sie wölen ein Loch darein reden.
Bauch in this context refers to the part of a body different to extremities or head. So "asking holes in a body" means to cause damage by asking too many questions. This also is used in the related idiom
Jemand mit Fragen löchern
where the verb löchern in modern colloquial German is about to lose its meaning of making holes and mostly is used for pestering somebody with question.
Dass Wieprecht bei den Konzerten im Kühlhaus am Gleisdreieck die Musiker mit seinen Laien-Fragen löchert, gefällt vielen im Publikum ganz besonders.Der Tagesspiegel 25.04.2016
