Questions tagged [phrase-request]

Suche geläufige Wendung - Questions on finding a phrase that fits a meaning.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
7 votes
6 answers
4k views

A German equivalent for "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

I know we get a lot of requests here for translations of idioms and expressions, and many times they don't exist. (Something I often point out myself.) But I thought this might deserve some discussion ...
RDBury's user avatar
  • 10.7k
0 votes
3 answers
135 views

How to check correctness of german free writings

Is there a site where my daughter could check correctness of her german writings, e.g. Aufsätze, Argumentation, Erörterungen? She could have some errors in expressions (im Ausdruck).
Dalia Elkady's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
1k views

Humorous double negation

So you know how in English people might humorously answer a question like Do you want to go? in a kind of faux denial, with I don't not want to go. Is it possible to express the same sentiment in ...
carenekl's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
96 views

"wer alle" / "welche alle" - is it correct german?

How can we express "who all" in german? "Wer alle..."? For example - group of more people vising you at your house, and you want to offer some drink. And you want to emphasize that ...
jansulc's user avatar
  • 23
1 vote
2 answers
215 views

Can I use "Ich bin erreichbar..." as "I'm available..." (scheduling an appointment)

I want to schedule an appointment at the dentist's. I read that "erreichbar sein" means "to be reachable" and you can use it when you talk over the phone, but I was wondering if I ...
Codewife_101's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
432 views

How to say "I am available.." in German? (scheduling an appointment)

I want to schedule an appointment at the dentist's. Can I write something like this? Guten Tag Herr Miller, Ich bin verfügbar: am Dienstag ab 11:00 – 15:00 Uhr am Donnerstag ab 11:00 – 15:00 Uhr am ...
Codewife_101's user avatar
1 vote
2 answers
277 views

What does this question mean: "Wohnst du zur Miete?"

I don't understand this question: Wohnst du zur Miete? I started learning German at Lingoda School (online.) I am a beginner (A1 level), and I have no clue what some phrases mean. I cannot provide ...
Codewife_101's user avatar
1 vote
3 answers
119 views

Wie nennt man jemanden, dessen Kritik sich an einer Utopie orientiert und welcher keine Lösungen bereit hat?

Gibt es ein Wort für jemanden, der alles an einer Utopie misst, aber keine Lösungen bereit hat? Natürlich braucht es Utopien als Richtungsweiser zur Weiterentwicklung des wissenschaftlichen Wissens. ...
Rubus's user avatar
  • 111
-1 votes
2 answers
260 views

Do we have to say "Uhr" when we give the time?

I just can't tell if it's dropped because it's a list of how to say different times and the creator of it just didn't care, or if that's actually fine when providing the time. Question: Wie spät ist ...
Matt Irwin's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
2k views

"Not if but when ..." and "Not when but if ..."

In English, there are sometimes exchanges like the following: Person A: If Bob finishes his thesis, ... Person B: When Bob finishes his thesis ... The effect of B's response to A, and their use of ...
Araucaria - Not here any more.'s user avatar
4 votes
6 answers
451 views

Deutsches Äquivalent zu: »That’s the way the cookie crumbles.«

That’s the way the cookie crumbles. Gebrauch: said when something slightly unlucky has happened that could not have been prevented and so must be accepted. Gibt es ein Äquivalent auf Deutsch? „So ist ...
cardamom's user avatar
  • 594
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

How do you say "Availability to travel to workplace" in German?

I am creating a resume for working remotely and I want to mention that I am available to travel to the workplace, but we need to talk about this availability before signing the contract. I am thinking ...
Amc_rtty's user avatar
  • 329
5 votes
1 answer
655 views

How to translate the English expressions "it's up to you" and it's down to you" into German?

In english the expression "it's up to you" leaves the decision to you. Whereas the expression "it's down to you" leaves the responsibility for an action down to you. I used Google ...
John Lamb's user avatar
  • 693
1 vote
8 answers
203 views

Was ist ein Wort für eine Gruppe oder jemanden, von der oder dem man sagen würde, dass sie keine Chance in etwas haben?

Beispiele 1: Greuther Fürth ist deutlich Letzter auf der Tabelle, sie sind wahre ________ Acht Leichtathleten stehen auf der 100-Meter-Linie... Markus und Lucas kommentieren die Leichtathleten, und ...
Vladnerovski's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
654 views

Deer in Headlights Punchline

When somebody is caught by the element of surprise she or he looks strange Sometimes like a Deer in Headlights. Is there a way to say that in german in a way that flows verbaly aka not using a ...
ExoticBirdsMerchant's user avatar
9 votes
4 answers
5k views

Isn't it demanding to ask for something with "Ich möchte"?

When they tell a waiter what food they'd like, why do Germans say "Ich möchte _" even though that translates as "I want _". Saying you want something sounds demanding in English. &...
user610620's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
11k views

Ist das korrekt? "bitte entschuldige meine verspätete Antwort"

Ich beantworte eine E-Mail eines Kollegen mit einer Verspätung und will mich dafür entschuldigen. Wäre es korrekt, wenn ich schreiben würde: »Bitte entschuldige meine verspätete Antwort«? Oder besser: ...
Ardeshir Moeinian's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
123 views

Time off in German

I have an appointment during my work hours . I would like to ask time off for this time plus 2 hours. Ich habe einen Termin um 15 Uhr. Darf ich von 14 Uhr bis 16 Uhr freinehmen? Did I translate it ...
Noel Miller's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
725 views

Is there a German phrase literally resembling "you can eat it" that means "food is good"?

Someone had told me that when asked "how's your food?" in Germany people sometimes responded with something along the lines of the German equivalent to "you can eat it", to mean ...
GZ-'s user avatar
  • 111
0 votes
3 answers
196 views

Deutsches Äquivalent zu „put your neck/ ass on the line“

Die englische Redewendung put your neck on the line (en-GB) put your ass on the line (en-US) wird auf der Seite von The Free Dictionary by Farlex wie folgt erklärt: To personally assume or expose ...
cardamom's user avatar
  • 594
13 votes
5 answers
3k views

What's the saying for when you have the exact change to pay for something?

I just went to collect an item I bought over Ebay and wanted to tell the seller that I had the exact amount of cash with me and he didn't need to worry about handing over change. How do I say this? I'...
Henry Firth's user avatar
  • 1,429
1 vote
2 answers
1k views

How to say "eat out", e.g. at a restaurant? [closed]

English has got an expression to eat out, meaning eating but not preparing the meal for yourself (i.e. restaurant, fast food, kebab etc.). What are ways to express the same in German?
ludgo's user avatar
  • 331
0 votes
1 answer
154 views

Word for expressing a mix of happiness and frustration

I was just wondering if such a word exists in German, does anybody know? A mix of happiness and frustration. Context: I have a job to do, I will be happy when it is done but in the meantime I feel ...
Francesco Rigoni's user avatar
3 votes
4 answers
923 views

How to say "I can't believe what I am looking at/seeing?"

There are many areas of the German language I struggle with due to the uncertainty of expressing certain nuances of the actual sentiment of the sentence I am trying to express. One of the biggest is ...
Robert Oschler's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
1k views

question with 'wie lange/wie viel...'

I have a question on how to correctly say 'how long is it until.../ how many days till.../ how many days are left till...' in German and which one is more common. For example should I say how many ...
lulu mirzai's user avatar
11 votes
9 answers
5k views

What is the German equivalent of a rhethorical “What can I do?”?

In English there is a very specific usage of the phrase “What can I do?” that has nothing to do with the literal usage of that question. It’s when that phrase is used as a rhetorical question where ...
Robert Oschler's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
210 views

How to say the conjunction “now that” in Geman? [closed]

If I want to say something like: Now that I have all the files, I can start working. How much money is left on my account, now that I paid for all that stuff? How do I say this now that in German? I ...
Lu Kas's user avatar
  • 23
3 votes
3 answers
145 views

Deutsches Äquivalent zu »My Word Is Not Gospel«!

Auf Englisch, wenn man seine Meinung äußert und gleichzeitig betonen will, dass sie nur eine Meinung und nicht unbedingt wahr ist, und ihr nicht wie ein Gesetz zu folgen ist, sagt man My word is ...
Infinity's user avatar
  • 656
3 votes
1 answer
316 views

»Parochial« und »parochialism« auf Deutsch

Ich übersetze gerade ein philosophisches Buch eines Physikers, in dem die englischen Wörter parochial und parochialism oft vorkommen. Damit meint der Autor so viel wie Engstirnigkeit, oder einen engen ...
Dennis Hackethal's user avatar
1 vote
4 answers
626 views

Is there a German word for immense relief after a great work or effort?

Such as spending many hours or days on a great task, and when finished having an immense sens of relief, or a lightening of load?
Welt's user avatar
  • 29
2 votes
2 answers
213 views

German equivalent of “Mutual weirdness forever”

mutual weirdness forever is a common form of congratulation for weddings, and gift cards with this wording can be found in endless numbers. How would you say this in German? I need this for a gift ...
amikayave's user avatar
5 votes
3 answers
117 views

Wort oder Redewendung für neu betrachtete Kindheitserinnerungen

Ich suche ein Wort oder Redewendung die folgende Situation bzw. Gefühl beschreibt: Wenn man zum Beispiel Jahre später in das frühere Haus/Dorf/... seiner Kindheit zurück kommt und alles sehr viel ...
HectorLector's user avatar
2 votes
7 answers
526 views

What's an indifferent way to answer "Wie geht's?"

I'm trying to be more expressive and nuanced in my German. In English, I can answer the question "How's it going? How are you?" in three different levels of energy: Indifferent/Lukewarm: "It's not ...
skytreader's user avatar
4 votes
6 answers
440 views

"More scientific" replacement for "Abstellgleis"

I'm looking for a more scientific word than "Abstellgleis" in the following context: Nach der Übergabe des Projektes an die Open-Source-Gemeinschaft scheint das Projekt auf dem Abstellgleis ...
BudBrot's user avatar
  • 143
1 vote
2 answers
9k views

Frage zur gewünschten Ankunftszeit formulieren

Ich frage mich, wie man am besten die optimale Ankuftzeit / Reinkommen-Zeit erfragt. Angenommen mich erwartet morgen ein neuer Arbeitsgeber und ich möchte ihn fragen, welche Uhrzeit seinerseits am ...
Mauri's user avatar
  • 111
20 votes
6 answers
7k views

How do you say "to play Devil's advocate" in German?

In English, I use the phrase "to play Devil's advocate" quite often, it allows me to ask difficult questions without challenging the other person's position or status too directly. The nicest ...
mcaleaa's user avatar
  • 377
2 votes
2 answers
255 views

"To the rescue" in German

We have a common phrase in English : "to the rescue", to describe the act of swooping in and saving the situation. I want to say "German to the rescue" to describe the process whereby the German ...
Bruce Becker's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
158 views

How do you say 'This took a dark turn.' in German?

How do you say "This took a dark turn / This turned dark real quick/fast"? Dictionaries offer "dunkel, finster, düster, freudlos", but I don't think these reflect the emotion behind the sentence.
onqi's user avatar
  • 23
7 votes
1 answer
610 views

Phrase request for "work in" in the context of gyms

In gyms, it's common that someone wants to use the equipment that you are using and you're okay with them using the equipment while you are resting. In English, you could ask "Would you like to work ...
hrkrshnn's user avatar
  • 173
2 votes
1 answer
120 views

How would you translate "insured for your peace of mind"?

I am currently translating a flyer for my dad's renovation and property maintenance business from English to German (he recently moved to Germany). I am pretty confident with most of what I've done so ...
IAN's user avatar
  • 23
5 votes
7 answers
3k views

Prägnante und kurze deutsche Entsprechung zu "virtue signalling"?

Mir ist jetzt schon ein paar mal aufgefallen, daß wir im Deutschen keine Entsprechung des englischen Begriffs "virtue signalling" (bedeutet etwa: die Zurschaustellung der eigenen Tugendhaftigkeit) zu ...
0xC0000022L's user avatar
  • 2,343
15 votes
4 answers
5k views

What is the German equivalent of the proverb 水清ければ魚棲まず (if the water is clear, fish won't live there)?

The proverb's meaning is that just as fish prefer muddy waters and avoid clear streams, people generally do not associate with those who are too ideal in terms of ethics, manners, and habits. In other ...
Mitsuko's user avatar
  • 1,065
2 votes
4 answers
2k views

What is "I bet" in German? [closed]

In English I always find myself saying "I bet" in this kind of context: "I bet you're well chuffed with it." What would this be in German and could it be used without sounding weird?
Intel's user avatar
  • 125
6 votes
5 answers
2k views

German phrase for 'suited and booted'

What is a German phrase for the English phrase 'suited and booted' meaning that someone or a group of people are prepared, have the necessary equipment, etc.
Intel's user avatar
  • 125
3 votes
4 answers
231 views

Getting away with something in German

I know that "mit etwas davonkommen" is "to get away with" something in the sense of a crime, but can this be used figuratively as well? For example, Singers can "get away with" less talent today ...
Mark's user avatar
  • 2,751
8 votes
4 answers
3k views

What is the German equivalent of 干物女 (dried fish woman)?

Literally meaning dried fish woman, the popular slang 干物女 is used to call a woman in her twenties or older who, as nicely summarized in Wikipedia, has many of the following traits: メールの返事が極端に遅い、短い (...
Mitsuko's user avatar
  • 1,065
3 votes
3 answers
2k views

What were the main German words for a prostitute before 1800?

Prostitution is referred to as the oldest profession, but the German word "Prostituierte" is a borrowing that started being used in the German language around 1800. I would like to know what the ...
Mitsuko's user avatar
  • 1,065
7 votes
1 answer
175 views

Options for quick email reply to the effect of "I've just done it" or "I've taken care of it"

If I get an email request to do something, what would be some standard polite replies to the effect of "I've just done it" (what you asked for)? Would Lieber X, habe ich gemacht. Viele Grüße, Y ...
EmailQuestion's user avatar
18 votes
8 answers
6k views

German idiomatic equivalents of 能骗就骗 (if you can cheat, then cheat)

A Chinese expression goes: 能骗就骗 (Néng piàn jiù piàn.) (If you can trick/cheat, then trick/cheat.) The idea is that there is no reason to be honest just for the sake of being honest. That is, ...
Mitsuko's user avatar
  • 1,065
0 votes
3 answers
2k views

Are there terms in German for different skull shapes?

In English, the term "squarehead" used to refer to Germans and Scandiavians (1), due to their supposedly unusual cranial features (2, 3) Does the German language have words for the ...
MWB's user avatar
  • 641

1
2 3 4 5