A |
Abfuhr
(f), „jemanden eine Abfuhr erteilen" |
correct
meaning: reject, keep off (literal
translation: to give sb. a carry-away)
(fencing)
In case, when a duellist is so wounded, that
the helper takes him away from the duel. |
Anbieter
(m), „Abtrittanbieter" |
(literal
translation: the one who offers a private service)
(Middle
Ages) There were people with large coats who
offered other people the service of letting
them relieve themselves without being seen by
other people. There were no pay toilets in the
Middle Ages. |
„anzetteln
etw." |
correct
meaning: to instigate sth. (literal
translation: to warp sth.)
(weaving):
Zettelwarp. |
arm
„arm wie eine Kirchenmaus" |
correct
meaning: very poor (literal translation:
as poor as a church mouse)
(Middle
Ages) There were no pantries in churches. |
Arsch
(m) „Bleiarsch" |
(literal
translation: lead ass)
(engineering)
A lead plate sewn into a fabric. If a glider
plane is too light, the glider pilot gets such
a lead plate "under his ass." |
Ast
(m) "sich einen Ast lachen" |
correct
meaning: to laugh oneself to death (literal
translation: to laugh oneself a hunch)
Ast
(Buckel) (in old meaning) = hunch. |
Aufheben
(n), „viel Aufhebens machen um etwas"
|
correct
meaning: to make a big fuss about s.th.
(literal translation: to make a lot of lifting
about nothing)
(Middle
Ages) During the jostling match the weapons
were laid on the ground. The knights theatrically
lifted their weapons while bragging about their
skills. |
B |
Bank
(f) „etwas auf die lange Bank schieben" |
correct
meaning: to put something off, procrastinate
(literal translation: shove something
onto the long bench)
(the
ancient world). Roman law was the first written
law. Cases were written down, and the files
were laid on a bench if the cases were too difficult.
The files of the longest cases were shoved to
the end of the bench. |
Bär
(m) „Vibrationsbär" |
(engineering)
(literal translation: vibratory bear)
A machine that drives stakes into the earth.
It is not as loud as a drop hammer. |
Bein
(n) „Eisbein" |
correct
meaning: a dishsalted pork's leg
(literal translation: ice leg)
(Middle
Ages) The people in old Germany made skates
from pig's knuckle bones. |
Bissen
(m) „da bleibt einem der Bissen im Halse
stecken" |
correct
meaning: to be afraid, to be guilty (literal
translation:a lump lodged in his throat)
(Middle
Ages) In order to find out if a person was guilty
or not, he was given a piece of stale bread;
if he was able to swallow it he was assumed
to be not guilty. |
blau,
„blau machen" |
correct
meaning: to skip work, play hookie, fake
illness to avoid work/school (literal translation:
to make it blue)
(Middle
Ages). Dyers hung out the blue dyed farbics
for air drying. This took one day. On this day
the dyers did not have to work. |
Bohrer (m) „Zuwachsbohrer" |
correct
meaning: a drill (literal translation:
a growing drill)
(engineering)
Coreless drill for testing a tree without cutting
it down. |
Bremse
(f) „Darmbremse" |
correct
meaning: a brake (literal translation:
intestine brake)
(engineering)
A part of a sausage machine for evenly filling
an intestine with sausage. |
Brett
(n) „Damenbrett" |
(literal
translation: a lady board)
(zoology)
A butterfly with black-and-white wings. |
Brett
(n) „Fummelbrett" |
(literal
translation: a puddle board)
(engineering
) bricklayer's tool. |
Bulle
(m) „Rucksackbulle" |
(literal
translation: a rucksack bull)
inseminator
(veterinary medicine). |
Büffel
(m) „Spritzbüffel" |
(literal
translation: sprinkle buffalo)
(engineering)
During the drilling of a tunnel, this machine
firms the walls and prevents them from crumbling.
|
C |
|
„Charlottenburger"(m) |
correct
meaning: 80x80cm big carpenter's kerchief.
With it young German carpenters go on a pilgrimage.
|
„Cicisbeo" (n) |
An
institution of male "house guests" for married
women was legalized in Germany in the 16th
century. |
D |
|
Dachdecker
(m) "Das kannst du halten wie ein
Dachdecker!" |
correct
meaning: You can do it any way you want!
(literal translation: You can keep it as
a roofer!)
(Middle
Ages) Roofers were practically uncheckable,
because nobody was courageous enough to go to
the roof and check their work. |
Dalli,
Dalli! |
correct
meaning: Be quickly! Man alive!
From
Polish "dalej" = "forward". |
Das
„D" in D-Zug |
D
for „Durchgang-Zug"
„Durchgang-Zug"
is a passing-through train, wich is walkable
from the first wagon until the last one. The
first „Durchgang-Zug"was used in Prussia
in 1892. |
Dach
(n) „jemanden auf's Dach steigen"
|
correct
meaning: to lean on sb. (literal translation:
to climb on sb's roof)
To
make a point about sth. |
Dackel
(m) „Trümmerdackel" |
(literal
translation: wreckage dachshund)
(legal
language) Employee of an insurance company who
interrogates the eyewitnesses of an accident. |
Decke
(f) „Spritzdecke" |
(literal
translation: sprinkle blanket)
A
piece of fabric in a canoe for protection from
splashing water. |
Deckung
(f) „wilde Deckung" |
(literal
translation: wild cover)
(trade)
Covering a roof with nature slates of individual
forms. |
Diele
(f) „Eisdiele" |
correct
meaning: ice cream parlor (literal
translation: ice cream board)
At
the beginning of 20th century mobile
ice cream freezers in German were forbidden.
Ice cream makers sold ice cream through the
ground level windows. To show what ice cream
they had they placed a big board under the window
to help children see the ice cream. |
Ding
(n) „alle guten Dinge sind drei" |
(literal
translation: All good things come in
threes) Ding = Thing
(old German) Thing = court procedure. Court
proceedings took place in old Germany only three
times a year. When the accused came to the third
session, he couldn't count with the best deal
(in the majority of cases he was convicted). |
Das
sind ja Böhmische Dörfer! |
correct
meaning: It is all Greek to me! (literal
translation: It is all the villages of Bohemia
to me!)
(Middle
Age) This figure of speech came from the time
of Thirty-Year War. During this war a lot of
villages in Bohemia were destroyed. So "Böhmisches
Dorf" (a village of Böhmen) meant something
which was no longer. |
"Duckdalben"
(f) |
Pilings
in harbor for tying up ships. |
E |
|
Ecke
(f) „Faulecken" |
(literal
translation: foul corners) (medical language)
Inflammation of the corners of the mouth. |
Effeff,
„etwas aus dem Effeff beherrschen/ verstehen
" |
correct
meaning: to be able to do smth. blindfolded
(literal translation: to do/to understand something
as FF )
(Middle
Ages) Quotations from the Pandectae (writings
of old Roman legal scholars) were identified
with Greek letter π (pi). Through
repeated transcribings the letter was transformed
into the German letters ff. |
„Eingericht" (n) |
correct
meaning: everything in a bottle (wine,
beer etc.). |
Eis
(m) „Bauernglatteis" |
(literal
translation: farmer's clear ice) In the
summer tractors drop some of the crop on the
road. If it rains, this turns into liquid manure
and cars slip in summer like on clear ice in
winter. |
Eule
(f) „Eulen nach Athen tragen" |
correct
meaning: to do smth. which doesn't make
sense (literal translation: to bring owls
to Athensto carry coal to Newcastle)
Owl
was the symbol of Athens. There were a lot of
owls in ornaments, on coins etc., so it made
no sense to bring more. |
F |
|
Falte
(f) „Bananenfalte" |
(literal
translation: banana wrinkle)
(medical
language) A banana wrinkle is situated between
the lower back and the thigh. |
„Fräulein"
(n) |
Miss
(In Germany the form of address for a lady
teacher in schools regardless of her married
status)
Until
1953 the female public servants were not alowed
to be married. |
Fenster
(n) „Spritzfenster" |
(literal
translation: sprinkle window)
(farming)
A part of a field wich was not sprayed or fertilized
to see the result of a measure by comparison. |
Ferkel
(n) „Spanferkel" |
correct
meaning: suckling piglet (literal translation:
shaving piglet) While "spänen" means
to "shave" or "cut" in modern German, in old
German it also meant "to suck." |
Fieber
(n) "Bockfieber" |
(literal
translation:buck fever)
(hunting)
German hunters call so the agitated state of
a hunter, when he sees a buck in front of himself.
|
Fisch
(m) „Backfisch" |
correct
meaning: young girl (literal translation:
back fish)
Fishermen
throw fish that are too little to eat back into
the water. |
Frosch
(m) „Frosch im Hals haben" |
correct
meaning: to speak in a coarse voice (literal
translation: to have a frog in one's throat)
This
figure of speech comes from the Latin words
"ranula" (blastoma in the throat, literally
"little frog") and "rana" (frog). |
Fuchtel
(f) „unter der Fuchtel stehen" |
correct
meaning: to be supervised by sb.
German
soliders in 16th century were punished
by beating with a stick (Fuchtel = a stick).
|
G |
|
Gabel
(f) „Marschgabel" |
correct
meaning: holder for sheet music (literal
translation: march fork)
It
is attached to wind instruments. |
Geld
(n) "Fersengeld geben" |
correct
meaning: to turn tail and run (literal
translation: to give heels money)
(Middle
Age) Upon divorce, the former husband paid money
to the former wife as alimony. The old German
word "Faerse" means "young cow"
and was later transformed into "Ferse"
(heels). |
Geld
(n) „Schmiergeld" |
correct
meaning: bribe money (literal translation:
money for oiling)
(Middle
Age) People paid the coach driver more to oil
the wheels, which enabled the carriage to go
faster. |
Gesicht
(n) „Analgesicht" |
(literal
translation: anal face)
(zoology)
When two dogs meed for the first time, they
sniff at each other's hind quarters. There are
special glands which identify each dogeach
dog has an "anal face" of its own. |
Getriebe
(n) „Malteserkreuzgetriebe" |
(literal
translation: Maltese cross gear)
(engineering)
Special gear in a motion picture projector wich
helps to run films backwards. |
Glöcke
(f) „etwas an die grosse Glocke hängen" |
correct
meaning: to shout sth. from the rooftops,
to let know smth. (literal translation: to
hang up smth. on the big bell)
(Middle
Age) The church bell announced the town meeting
of the village or town. During the meeting people's
private problems and family secrets were discussed
by the the entire town. |
Gras
(n) „ins Gras beissen" |
correct
meaning: to bite the dust, to die (literal
translation: to bite the grass)
(Middle
Age) After the battle wounded knights died on
the battlefield. If the mouth of the knight
was full of grass (or of dust) the people sayed,
that he died in terrible agonies, because he
bit the grass/dust with pain. |
Griff
(m) „Schwiegervater-Griff" |
(literal
translation: father-in-law's handshake)
Gripping
above the elbow during the handshake to feel
if the lymph nodes are swollenthe sign
of syphilis. |
Grün (n) „das ist
dasselbe in Grün" |
correct
meaning: It is the same (literal
translation: the same in green)
In
the 1925 the Opel factory in Germany produced
a car in green all but identical with a French
car Citroёn 5 CV. People said: „It is
the same but in green." |
H |
|
Hacke
(f) „eine Piephacke" |
(literal
translation: peep heel)
(zoology)
Disease of horses: swollen ankle behind the
hoof. |
„Hasenzieher"
(m) |
(literal
translation: hare drawer)
(dog
race) Person who starts a mechanical hare for
a dog race. |
Hand
(f) „die Hand ins Feuer legen" |
correct
meaning: to swear, (literal translation:
to put a hand into the fire)
(Middle
Ages) To confirm his innocence, the accused
had to put his hand into the fire. Fast-healing
wounds were signs of innocence. |
Haube
(f) "ein Mädchen unter die Haube
bringen" |
correct
meaning: to marry so.off (literal
translation: to bring sb. under the hood)
(Middle
Ages) Only married women were allowed to wear
hoods. |
Haut
(f) „das geht auf keine Kuhhaut" |
correct
meaning: It defies discription (literal
translation: you cannot put it on the cowhide)
In
the Middle Age there were small pergaments made
of sheephide and large ones of cowhide. If a
text was too long, it wouldn't fit on the cowhide.
|
das
Heft in der Hand haben |
correct
meaning: to have power (literal translation:
to have notebook in hand)
This
figure of speech comes from interchanging two
meanings of the German word "Heft." The old
meaning is "handle of a sword". |
Hering
(m) „rote Heringe" |
correct
meaning: faked traces of a crime (literal
translation: red herrings)
(criminal
language) In the past in America criminals would
leave a herring in tomato sauce on the site
of the crime. They thought it would confuse
the police dogs. |
Hieb
(m) „Besamungshieb" |
(literal
translation: insemination slash)
(foresty)
Cutting off tree-tops for better lighting of
low-lying plants. |
„Hohlhippe" (f) |
(literal
translation: hollow gardener's knife)
In
this case: Hippewaffle tube for ice-cream) |
„Hugo"
(n) |
Hugo
= HUman remains carGO |
Hund
(m) „auf den Hund gekommen sein" |
correct
meaning: to be reduced to indigence (literal
translation: to come to the dog)
(Middle
Ages) Germans used to keep their money in a
chest with a dog drawn on the bottom to scare
away thieves. If there was no more money in
the chest, everybody coud see the dog on the
bottom, so the owner was "coming to the
dog." |
Hund
(m) „Passivhund" |
(literal
translation: passive dog)
(criminal
language) Special sniffer dogs used in airports
for detection of drugs and explosives. When
such a dog finds something, it will not bark
but lie quietly down. It prevents the criminal
from being alerted and able to escape. |
Hutschnur
(f) „Das geht mir über die Hutschnur!" |
correct
meaning: It is too much! (literal
translation: Its more than a hat string!)
(Middle
Ages) In 14th century Germany, hat
string was a measure for the thickness of the
jet of water from the water tap. |
Hütte
(f) „Luderhütte" |
(literal translation: bait cabin)
(hunters'
language) Luder = dead animal, bait. Luderhütte
= hunter's shed. |
J |
Jagd
(f) „Fuchsjagd" |
(literal
translation:fox hunting) hot-air balloon
sport. |
O
Jemine! |
This
interjection meaning surprise comes from the
Latin "O Jesu Domine!" (O Lord Jesus). |
K |
|
Kaffee
(m) „Blümchenkaffee" |
correct
meaning: weak coffee (literal translation:
flower coffee)
If
the coffe is weak, you can see the ornament
of the coffee cup through the coffee. |
Kamelle
(f) "das sind doch olle Kamellen" |
correct
meaning: old stories (literal translation:
It is old chamomils)
"olle
Kamellen" is a transformation from "alte
Kamillen" |
Kante
(f) „etwas auf die Hohe Kante legen" |
correct
meaning: to save up for the rainy day
(literal translation: to put smth on the high
ledge)
(Middle
Age) The latter expression goes back to a time
before paper money when coins were wrapped in
rolls and placed on a high ledge ("hohe Kante")
for safekeeping. |
Kartoffel
(f) „rin in die Kartoffeln, raus aus die
Kartoffel" |
correct
meaning: Indecision (literal translation:
into the potato field, out of the potato field)
(military)
There was a long dispute in 19th century Europe
about the best attack strategy. Some military
commanders thought the best attack is in the
open field (rin in die Kartoffel); others insisted
on the attack from a hiding place (raus aus
die Kartoffeln). |
Katze
(f) „der/die geht ab wie Schmidts Katze" |
correct
meaning: very quickly (literal translation:
He/she acts as a blacksmith's cat)
Schmidt
= blacksmith. There were mice in blacksmiths'
shops, which destroyed the leather equipment;
therefore blacksmiths had to have cats. When
the blacksmith began to hit the iron to forge
it, all cats scurried away from the shop because
of the noise. |
Kerbholz
(n) „etwas auf dem Kerbholz haben" |
correct
meaning: to have a lot to answer for
(literal translation: to have something
on the tally stick)
(Middle
Age) The people in old Germany who were illiterate
had tally sticks for noting of their debts.
Debts were recorded as notches on two tally
sticks. One tally stick was for debtors, the
other one for creditors. |
Kipper
(m) „einachsiger Dreiseitenkipper" |
correct
meaning: wheelbarrow (literal translation:single-axis
three-side tipper)
(officialese
in German Army). |
"Kipptester"
(m) |
(literal
translation: tilting tester)
(engineering)
Equipment for testing the stability of gravestones
in a graveyard. |
Kopulation
(f) „englische Kopulation mit Gegenzunge" |
(literal
translation: English copulation with countertongue)
(botany)
A special cut for the betterment of plants.
First used in England. |
Krankheit
(f) „die Schweizer Krankheit" |
correct
meaning: homesickness, nostalgia
(literal translation: the Swiss disease)
(17th18th
centuries) German young people went to Switzerland
to study. If a student was homesick, he called
it a sickness from Switzerland. |
König
(m), „sich freuen wie ein Schneekönig" |
correct
meaning: to be happy (literal translation:
to be jolly like a snow king)
„Schneekönig"
(snow king) is the former name of „Zaunkönig"wren.
Wrens like to play in the snow. |
Kuh
(f) „Da stehste, wie die Kuh vorm neuen
Tor!" |
correct
meaning: to wait (literal translation:
to stand as a cow in front of a new gate)
In
old Berlin the tramways had no numbers but letters.
The Q (pron. „ku:" like German word for
„cow")line to the "New Gate"
station was single-track, so passangers had
to wait for a tram for a very long time. |
„Kuhbrenner" (m) |
correct
meaning: valve (literal translation: cow
burner)
(engineering)
A special valve in the burner of hot air balloons
to make the burner less noisy, in order not
to scare the cows. |
L |
|
Lappen
(n) „durch die Lappen gehen" |
correct
meaning: to run away, to clear off (literal
translation: to go through the rags)
(hounting)
The hunting grounds are surrounded by red rags.
Some animals are not afraid of the rags and
go through them, away from the hounting grounds. |
„Lattenrichter" (m) |
correct
meaning: measuring instrument (literal translation:
slat judge)
(engineering)
This instrument will be laid on slats to check
if the slats are at a right angle. |
Leier
(f) „Brustleier" |
correct
meaning: gimlet (literal translation:
a breast lyre). |
Loch
(n) „das Loch vom Dienst" |
(literal
translation: service hole)
(military)
The first hole in the clouds, which is searched
by a pilot to fly through. |
„Lochschnüffler" (m) |
correct
meaning: an instrument (literal translation:
a hole snooper)
(engineering)
An instrument for detecting holes in bicycle
tires (plastic case with styrofoam balls). |
Löffel
(m) „den Löffel abgeben" |
correct
meaning: to die (literal translation:
to give up a spoon)
In
the Middle Age spoons were very valuable. If
the grandfather died, his spoon was handed down
to the youngest member of the family. |
M |
|
Mann
(m) „ein Alter Mann" |
(mining)
(literal translation: old man)
old closed mine shaft. |
Männchen
(n) „Ladenmännchen" |
(literal
translation: shutter little man)
Device
for window shutters, which protects the shutter
from slammimg. |
Maus
(m) „Hanauer Maus" |
correct
meaning: a valve (literal translation:
mouse from Hanau)
(engineering
) A valve on a tractor's tires for filling with
water for more stability. |
Meister
(m) „Rüttelmeister" |
(literal
translation: shake master)
A
person who shakes the bottles of champagne to
get the yeast to the bottom. |
Miene
(f) „eine Leichenbittermiene machen" |
correct
meaning: to keep a straight face
(literal translation: to keep a face
like a "leichenbitter")
„Leichenbitter"in
old Germany a person who invited the relatives
to the funeral. |
Moos
(n) „Moos haben" |
correct
meaning: to have money, to be rich (literal
translation: to have moss)
(former
German students' language) The meaning came
from the Hebrew „ma'oth"coin.
|
Möbel
(n) „Erdmöbel" |
(literal
translation: earth furniture)
a
coffinoffcialese in the former GDR. |
N |
|
Nase
(f) „Buchhalternase" |
(literal
translation: bookkeeper's nose)
A
zigzag sign in bookkeeping documents. When the
calculation is finished, the bookkeeper puts
a zigzag sign in the free space of a document
as protection against changes which could be
made later. |
Nase
(f) „Pechnase" |
correct
meaning: Unlucky fellow (literal translation:
pitch nose)
(Middle
Ages ) "Pechnase" (tar nose) was a
hole in castle wall used during the siege to
pour boiling tar on the attackers. |
„Nebukadnezar" (m) |
Big
bottle for red wine (15 Liter) (from Nebuchadnezzar,
king of Babylonia). |
Niedertreter
(m) |
correct
meaning: Slippers (literal translation:
the one who steps down)
Slippers
with little cap around the heel wich can be
trodden down. |
Niere
(f) „Das geht mir an die Nieren!" |
correct
meaning: I've had it! (literal translation:
It comes to my kidney!)
(Middle
Ages) People thought that the kidney was the
cause of adultery. That is why the penalty for
adultery was the removal of one kidney. |
Nippel
(m) „Angstnippel" |
correct
meaning: Nipple (literal translation:
fear nipple)
(engineering)
A motorbike can have such fear nipple on
the footrest. When the motorbike is tilted too
far while cornering, the nipple contacts the
ground. That is a signal for the driver to right
the motorbike. |
Nippel
(m) „Würgenippel" |
(literal
translation: retch nipple)
(engineering)
connector for electrical cable. |
Nudel
(f) „Poolnudel" |
(literal
translation: swimming pool noodle)
Inflatable
or polystyrene buoy which helps beginners learn
to swim. |
„Nudelpumpen-mechanismus"
(m) |
(literal
translation: noodle pump mechanism)
(botanics)
Mechanism in flowers which makes sure that insects
coming to the flower are dusted with pollen
(important for the reproduction of flower). |
O |
|
„Oberflasche"
(f) |
(literal
translation: upper bottle)
(engineering)
The upper wheel of a chain block (die
Unterflasche = the lower wheel). |
Ohr
(n) „Schlitzohr" |
correct
meaning: chiseler, bilker (literal translation:slit
in the ear)
(Middle
Ages) Journeymen of diffrent trade guilds in
old Germany had earrings. When a journeyman
broke a rule of the trade guild, his earring
was ripped off. |
Ohr
(n) „sich etwas hinter die Ohren schreiben" |
correct
meaning: memorize, understand smth well
(literal translation: to write smth. behind
the ears)
(Middle
Ages) Scribes had the habit of holding their
writing feathers behind the ear. So the ink
spots behind the ear were a sign that this person
was literate. |
P |
|
„Paternoster" (n) |
correct
meaning: a model of elevator: The cabins
of this elevator look like prayer beads (from
the Latin Pater Noster = Our Father). |
Peter
„blaue Peter" |
correct
meaning: Flag (literal translation:
blue Peter)
(navy)
Blue quad on white field „All hands on
deck!" |
Pfanne
(f) „etwas auf der Pfanne haben" |
correct
meaning: to be at a advantage (literal
translation: to have smth. on the frying pan)
(Middle
Ages) While using a flintlock musket, the gunpowder
was lying on a pan. The one who had gunpowder
on the pan was at an advantage. |
Pferd
(n) „man hat schon Pferde kotzen sehen" |
correct
meaning: Smth. Impossible (literal
translation: they have seen the horse vomit)
Horses
cannot vomit. |
Pflaster
(n) „das ist ein teures Pflaster" |
correct
meaning: smth. very expensive (literal
translation:expensive band-aid)
(medicine).
|
„Pissreifen"
(n) |
correct
meaning: special dog litter pan (literal
translation: piss tire)
Invented
in Vienna. |
Professor
(m) „Spagatprofessor" |
(literal
translation: leg-split professor)
(officialese)
A professor who teaches in different universities
at the same time. |
Prüfer
(m) „Zungenprüfer" |
(literal
translation: tongue checker)
(engineering)
Mechanism in a shunting switch for checking
if the shunting switch is in the correct position. |
Prüfung
(f) „BH-Prüfung" |
It
looks like bra examination (BH in
Germanbra), but the correct meaning
is Begleit-Hundeführung-Prüfungguide
dog test. |
Pudelnass
sein |
correct
meaning: to be very soppy, to be like
a drowned rat (literal translation: to be
wet like a poodle)
Poodles
wree bred as hunting dogs for water fowl, so
that is why they were often wet after hunting. |
Punkt
(m) "springenden Punkt" |
correct
meaning: crucial point, key point
(literal translation: jumping point)
(ancient)
Aristotle looked at the open sky and saw a moving
point (Latin: quod punctum salet). |
Punkt
(m) „Nockpunkt" |
(literal
translation: knob point)
(archery)
A checkmark on a bow. |
„Punsch"
(m) |
punch
(Hindi:
Pantch = 5) Five ingredients: (rum, tee, water,
lemon, sugar). |
Puppe
(f) „bis in die Puppen gehen/haben" |
correct
meaning: very lengthy, very long (literal
translation: to go (to have) to the dolls)
There
are statues in a park named Tiergarten in Berlin
(people called these statues „Puppen"dolls)
The park was situated outside of the city. Therefore,
a walk to the dolls means a long walk. |
Q |
|
"Quacksalber"
(m) |
correct
meaning: questionable salesperson (literal
translation: quack salver)
(Middle
Ages) Quack = shouting. The quacksalvers sold
their wares on the market shouting in a loud
voice |
R |
|
Rat
(m) „Jemanden mit Rat und Tat unterstützen" |
correct
meaning: to support smb., to help (literal
translation: to support smb. with advice and
deed)
The
old German word "Rat" used to
mean „household and personal effects."
The meaning of this word later changed to "advice." |
Rechnung (f) „Milchmädchen-rechnung" |
correct
meaning: a calculation which is incorrect
from the start (literal translation: a milkmaid's
bill)
From
a French fable (Lafontaine) A milkmaid calculates
her income carrying milk to the market place.
But if she stumbles, the milk spills, and the
milkmaid's calculation is no longer correct.
|
Recht
(n) „Hammerschlagsrecht" |
correct
meaning: A special right (literal
translation: a hammer blow right)
(law)
A right to cross the neighbor's land to modify
smt. on one's own land. |
Recht
(n) „Schwengelrecht" |
correct
meaning: A special right (literal
translation: a handle right)
(law)
A right to cross the neighbor's land to have
access to one's own land while farming. |
Regal
(n) „Schatzregal" |
correct
meaning: A special law (literal translation:
treasure shelf)
(law)
This act regulates ownership of a treasure when
the actual owner is unknown. |
Ring
(m) „Fischerring" |
(literal
translation: fisherman's ring)
(church
language) Pope's ring. From St. Peter, „the
fisherman." |
Rille
(f) „Kreuzbruchrille" |
(literal
translation: cross break groove or back break
groove)
Groove
on a tablet for easy breaking. |
Rolle
(f) „heiße Rolle" |
correct
meaning: Paper towel (literal translation:
hot roll)
(medicine)
A towel dipped in hot water for physical therapy.
|
Rutsch
(m) „Einen guten Rutsch zum Neujahr!" |
correct
meaning: Happy New Year! (literal
translation: A good slide into the New Year!)
From the Hebrew: „Rosh"
= head, beginning. |
S |
|
Sack
(m) „Brüllsack" |
(literal
translation: bawling bag)
(zoology)
Bloated soft palate of a male camel. |
Sack
(m) „Wechselsack" |
(literal
translation: changing bag)
(photography)
A light-tight bag for changing films in
the photo camera. |
Salat
(m) „Eisbergsalat" |
Iceberg
lettuce
This
lettuce was delivered in ice („on the mountain
of ice" - iceberg) to keep it fresh. |
Sand
(m) „j-m Sand in die Augen streuen"
|
correct
meaning: to mislead so. (literal translation:
to scatter sand into so.'s eyes)
(Middle
Ages) In fencing it was unfair to throw sand
into the opponent's eyes. |
Sau
(f) „Ofensau" |
(literal
translation: oven sow)
(engineering)
During the removal of hot metal from the blast
furnace, some residue remains. This dirty residue
is called „Ofensau" (oven sow). |
Sau
(f) „Du besoffene Sau!" |
(literal
translation: „You drunken pig!")
In
Germany during the Middle Ages, beer was too
valuable to throw out the leftovers. So the
beer leftovers were given to pigs. It was actually
possible in those times to see a drunken pig
occasionally. |
Schere
(f) „Freudenschere" |
(literal
translation: pleasure scissors)
(Middle
Ages) A particular position of windmill vanes
as a sign of good news. |
schick
„todschick" |
Extemely
chic or fancy (literal translation: death
chic)
French:
tout = all, altogether. |
Schindluder
treiben mit jemandem |
correct
meaning: to play fast and loose with
sb.
Schindluder
= old domestic animals. So Schindluder
treiben means to treat sb. as a useless
animal. |
Schieber
(m) „ein Zapfenschieber" |
correct
meaning: A stick (literal translation:
cone pusher)
(engineering)
A stick to push curtains. |
Schlüpfer
(m), „Spaltschlüpfer" |
(zoology)
The fly that hatches from the cocoon through
a gap "Deckelschlüpfer"
- the fly that forces the cocoon open. |
Schneider
(m) „Altschneider" |
correct
meaning: a male pig (literal translation:
old cutter)
A
young male pig old enough to be caponized. |
Das
ist mir schnuppe! |
correct
meaning: I don't care about it! (literal
translation: It is a snuff for me!)
In
the Middle Ages, the most useless work was considered
to be extinguishing the candles in a church
(to snuff them out). |
"Schorle"
(f) |
A
drink: wine mixed with water 50 / 50.
In
the 19th century the French toast "Toujour l'amour"
(Love always) was very popular in Germany. But
Germans pronounced it sloppily "Schorlemorle"
and then shorter "Schorle." |
Schraube
(f) „Schwanzschraube" |
A
catch (literal translation: tail screw)
(engineering)
A catch on a muzzle-loader gun. |
Schrot
(m) „aus echtem Schrot und Korn sein" |
correct
meaning: to be the real thing (literal
translation: to be made from real grist and
grain)
(coinage)
„Schrot" an old German word
for rough weight of a coin ."Korn"
- is the weight (grain) of precious metals in
a coin. If the „Schrot" and
the "Korn" of
a coin were known, this coin
was more valuable, because there were many counterfeit
coins in middle-age Germany. |
Schule
(f) „aus der Schule plaudern" |
correct
meaning: to give away a secret (literal
translation: to blab from school)
In
the ancient world the students of each philosopher's
school were bound to professional discretion
(students were not allowed to tell their knowledge
to others). |
Schwede
(m) „Eckschwede" |
Special
pipe pliers (literal translation: angle Swede). |
Schwede
(m) „flacher Schwede" |
Acrobatic
figure in rock n' roll. |
„Schwiegermutterstuhl» (m) |
(bothanic)
a cactus (literal translation: chair for
mother-in-law)
Round
cactus with yellow thorns. |
spanisch,
„Das kommt mir spanisch vor!" |
correct
meaning: to find smth. funny or
strange (literal translation: It is Spanish
for me!)
(Middle
Ages) Karl V (1500-1558) was first a German
Emperor and later also King of Spain. When he
introduced new customs to the German royal court,
people thought they came from Spain. |
Spanner
(m) „Nippelspanner" |
Tool
(literal translation: nipple tightener)
(engineering)
Instrument for tightening bicycle wheel spokes. |
Er
spinnt! |
correct
meaning: He is nuts! (literal translation:
he spins!)
The
"spinnen" expression may go back to a time when
mentally ill inmates in prison were given spinning
work to calm them down and occupy their time. |
Stecher
(m) „französischer Stecher" |
Special
trigger mechanism of a hunting rifle (literal
translation: French pricker)
(engineering)
This special mechanism was designed in France.
It allows to shoot a gun with only a light pressure
on the trigger. |
Stein
(m) «Stein des Anstoßes» |
correct
meaning: Stone of contention (literal
translation: the stone of abutment)
(Middle
Ages) Coachmen damaged corners of buildings
with the coach wheels during tight turns. House
owners protected the corners of their houses
with big stones. These stones made streets narrower,
which gave rise to arguments between the coachmen
and the houseowners. |
Stein
(m) „Hungersteine" |
Stones
(literal translation: hunger stones)
The
stones on the bottom of a dried-out river |
Stellung
(f) „Apothekenstellung" |
Special
door stop mechanism (literal translation:
apothecary position)
(Middle
Ages) In the middle of the night, a pharmacist
opened the door only wide enough to give out
the medication. The special door-stop mechanism
protected him from thieves, who were unable
to open the door wider. |
Stellung
(f) „Viertel-vor-drei Stellung" |
Right
position of hands on the steering wheel (literal
translation: a quarter to three position)
|
Stich
(m) „Sackstich" |
A
bend (literal translation:a bag prick) |
Stich
(m) „jemanden im Stich lassen" |
correct
meaning: to abandon, to leave smb. in
the lurch (literal translation: to let smb.
under the blow)
(Middle
Ages) During a tournament, the valet had little
time to help the knight leave the battlefield
if he fell off his horse. If the valet didn't
help the knight (let him under the blow), the
opponent had the right to attack again. |
Stock
(m) „über Stock und Stein" |
correct
meaning: rough and tumble (literal
translation: to go over stick and stone)
The
borders of communities in old Germany were marked
with sticks, and the borders of states with
stones. |
Stunde
(f) "goldene Stunden" |
correct
meaning: the golden hours
(photography)
The time shortly after sunrise and shortly before
sunset. During this time photos will have a
very nice lighting ("golden light"). |
Suppe
(f) „es zieht wie Hechtsuppe" |
correct
meaning: There is a draft (literal
translation: there is a draft like a pike soup)
(Yiddisch)
Hech = like; suffa = wind, hech suffa = like
a windtransformed into the German word
Hechtsuppepike soup. |
Syndrom
(n) „Kippfenstersyndrom" |
(literal
translation: bottom hung window syndrom)
(animal
health) domestic animal (usually cat) injured
when caught in a bottom-hung window. |
T |
|
Tagung
(f) die Hühnertagung" |
A
meeting of detectives from Schleswig-Holstein
with collegues form bordering federal states.
(literal translation: chicken meeting)
The
term comes from the time when there was a lot
of thievery of chicken in Schleswig-Holstein.
Meetings with collegues from bordering federal
states helped authorities exchange information
about the thieves. |
Tapet
(n) „etwas auf 's Tapet bringen" |
correct
meaning: to rise an issue, to rise an
topic (literal translation: to bring smth.
on wallpapers)
Old
French: Tapet = carpet. Formerly tables of the
courtroom were carpeted. |
„Teufelslappen" (m) |
correct
meaning: a flag (literal translation:the
devil's cloth)
(French:
flamme rouge) During the Tour de France and
other cycle races, this triangular flag shows
the last one thousand meters. |
„Trockensteher" (m) |
correct
meaning: a pregnant cow (literal translation:
dry stayer)
A
pregnant cow should not be milked (it is let
stay dry) for four weeks before calving. |
«Trockenanschlag» (m) |
correct
meaning: a sport shooting exercise
(literal translation: dry swing)
(sport)
An exercise when a shooter practices shooting
positions with an unloaded gun. |
Tuch
(n) „Verzögerungstuch" |
correct
meaning: a cloth (literal translation:
a delay cloth) A cloth wich prevents a parachute
from suddenly opening. |
Tuten
(n) „von Tuten und Blasen keine Ahnung
haben" |
correct
meaning: To be ignorant of smth (literal
translation: to have no idea about to
hoot and toot)
To
toot and to hoot were the duties of a night
watchman. This profession was the least popular
in the Middle Ages in Germany. Someone who was
not able to performe the duties of this profession
had to be extraordinarily stupid. |
U |
|
„Überständer" (m) |
correct
meaning: a tree (literal translation:
the one, who is taller than the rest)
(forestry)
Very tall trees in a forest, wich are higher
than the rest. |
Urteil
(n) „Stuhlurteil" |
correct
meaning: Very quick judgement (literal translation:
a chair judgement)
When
a judge makes a judgement on the first
day of the trial (whithout leaving his chair).
|
Unterdrückung
(f), „Kleintierunterdrückung" |
correct
meaning: Adjustment of a motion detector
(literal translation: small animal suppression)
(engineering)
A special adjustment of a motion detector
for preventing the response to
the motion of small animals (mice, cats etc.). |
V |
|
„verfranzen
sich" |
correct
meaning: off course, to get lost (literal
translation: to make it like Franz)
During
World War 1, there was a famous German pilot,
Emil, and his navigator Franz. When Franz gave
the wrong navigation data, Emil flew their plane
in the wrong direction, so he made it like Franz. |
„Vergeilung" (f) |
correct
meaning: Etiolation (literal translation:
to make smth. sweet, attractive)
(biology)
The stems of plants raised in the dark grow
taller than normal, a phenomenon called etiolation. |
„verhaspeln
sich" |
correct
meaning: to get muddled, to splutter
(Middle
Ages). During work with the spinning wheel,
the thread can get entangled. |
Verkehr
(m) „aktiver Veredlungsverkehr" |
correct
meaning: active processing trade
(commerce)
The purchase of almost completely processed
products from abroad for finishing and selling
domestically. Passiver Veredlungsverkehr
(passive processing trade) The sale
of almost completely processed products from
one's own country to a foreign country for finishing
and selling. |
Verknüpfung
(f) „Kopf-Schwanz-Verknüpfung"
|
correct
meaning: bonding (literal translation:
head-to-tail bonding)
(chemistry)
bonding of molecules. |
Verlängerer
(m) „Halsverlängerer" |
(literal
translation: neck-lengthener)
(horseracing)
special reins. |
Vogel
(m) „Pechvogel" |
correct
meaning: unlucky man, misadventurer
(literal translation: tar bird)
(Middle
Ages) The hunters tarred branches of trees for
catching birds (the bird got stuck in the tar
and was unable to fly away). |
Vollstreicher
(m) |
(literal
translation: somebody, who will to be crossed
out)
(horse-racing)
A horse, which has no prospect to win the race,
so it can be crossed out from the list of potential
winners. |
Vordermann
(m), „auf Vordermann" bringen" |
correct
meaning: to whip smth. into shape (literal
translation:to bring it to the man in front)
(military)
To make smth. orderly like in the army (to dress
like the man in front). |
"Vorkoster"
(m) |
correct
meaning: someone who tastes dishes
(ancient)
Rich people had special slaves who tasted their
food prior to consumption to protecte them against
poisoning. |
W |
|
Wagen
(m) "Besenwagen" |
correct
meaning: a special bus (literal translation:
a broom wagon)
(marathon)
A bus that collects marathon runners on the
road who are exhausted and unable to run on.
|
Wasser
(n) „Oberwasser haben" |
correct
meaning: to have /to get/ the bulge on
smb. (literal translation: to have headwater)
(engineering)
A water mill that is driven by water flowing
top to bottom has more power than one driven
by horizontally flowing water. |
Wächter
(m) „Milchwächter" |
correct
meaning: A gadget (literal translation:
milk guard)
A
gadget attached to a pot in which milk is boiled
and which gives a signal when the milk is too
hot and can be overcooked. |
Weg
(m) „auf dem Holzweg sein" |
correct
meaning: to be on the wrong track / to
bark up the wrong tree (literal translation:
to be on the wood track)
(forestry)
The wood track is the lumber trail in a forest,
so it is the road to nowhere. |
Weinprobe
(f), „horizontale Weinprobe" |
correct
meaning: A special wine-tasting
horizontal
wine-tasting is the tasting of different wines
of the same year;
vertikale
Weinprobe (vertical wine-testing) is
the tasting of the same wine of different vintages.
|
Wiege
(f) „Weiselwiege" |
(literal
translation: queen cradle)
(zoology)
Weisel = queen bee, Weiselwiege
is the comb of the queen bee in a beehive |
Wild
(n) „Hochwild" „Niederwild"
|
(literal
translation: high game and low game)
(Middle Ages, hunting) Hochwildbig
gamegame allowed to be hunted only by
higher nobility.
Niederwildgame for lower nobility
or for peasants. |
Wirtschaft
(f) „Lotterwirtschaft" |
correct
meaning: disorder, misgovernment (literal
translation: the economy of Lotter)
Lotter
was an architect who build the city hall in
Leipzig in 1556. After 115 years, the city hall
was very decrepit, so people accused Lotter
of poor workmanship. |
Witwerschaft
(f) „trockene Witwerschaft" |
(literal
translation: dry widowerhood)
(zoology)
Breeders of carrier pigeons separate male pigeons
from female. This way the male pigeons deliver
messages faster because they want to come home
faster to the female pigeons |
X |
|
X,
"jemanden ein X für ein U vormachen" |
correct
meaning: to try to defraud so. (literal
translation: to put X instead U)
(Roman
numerals) V=5; X=10;
(Middle
Ages) Moneylenders tried to write an X instead
of a V into loan documents to receive higher
repayments. |
Z |
|
Zahn
(m) "einen Zahn zulegen" |
correct
meaning: to do smth. faster, to hurry
up (literal translation: to move smth. up
a cog)
In
the Middle Ages, food was cooked on the fireplace.
The pot was hung up on a frame with cogs. If
they wanted to cook faster, they moved the pot
closer to the fire using the cog mechanism.
|
Zapfen
(m) „Königszapfen" |
(literal
translation: king pin)
(tracking)
A little bolt in the connecting system between
the towing and towed vehicle. |
Zehner
(m) „ungerader Zehner" |
correct
meaning: deer antlers (literal translation:
an uneven ten)
(hunting
language) Deer antlers with five points on one
side and four points on the other side. |
Zettel
(m) „einen Denkzettel bekommen" |
correct
meaning: to receive a spanking (literal
translation: to get a memory ticket)
In
the old German school, a student who was failing
received a ticket around the neck showing the
failures. The student had to carry this ticket
around his neck until its content was memorized.
|
Ziffer
(f) „Verkehrsausscheidungsziffer" |
correct
meaning: digit (literal translation:
traffic exclusion digit)
(digital
communication) A digit in long distance telephone
communication which excludes local telecomm
service providers (in the U.S. and Canada 011). |
„Zitzendippen" (n)
|
(literal
translation: teat dipping)
(farming)
After milking, farmers dip teats in a desinfecting
fluid as protection against mastitis (udder
inflammation). |
Zone
(f) „Fummelzone" |
correct
meaning: An area or a room (literal
translation: twiddle area)
(shooting
sport) Area or room for unpacking of guns. |
Zunge
(f) „Stoßzunge" |
special
mechanism (literal translation: kick tongue)
(technical
language) A part of the piano mechanism. |
Zweig
(m) auf keinen grünen Zweig kommen" |
correct
meaning: not to be getting ahead (literal
translation:not to get on a green twig)
(Middle
Ages) A green twig (branch) received by the
heir from the testator symbolized a piece of
real estate. |
zwitschern
"sich einen zwitschern" |
correct
meaning: to drink wine (literal translation:
to make it squeak)
When
the cork comes out of the bottle it squeaks.
|