9x funny German expressions related to food
Germans aren’t exactly known for their humor. But these German expressions – which, incidentally, surprisingly often refer to food or cooking – are pretty funny.
Earlier, we had indescribable fun with the bizarre names Germans give certain dishes. Be honest, does your mouth water when you read ‘Kalter Hund’, or when you’re promised ‘Maultaschen’? The German language is special, and especially funny. Take these expressions, for example—why don’t we say things like this in Dutch?
Du gehst mir auf den Keks
Literally: you’re standing on my cookie, but it means: you’re annoying me. It actually makes sense, because if someone trampled my cookies, I’d be pretty irritated too.
Kummerspeck
Literally: worry fat. That’s what our eastern neighbors call the kilos you gain when you eat emotionally. All those Ben & Jerry’s, pizzas and thick bars of Tony Chocolonely: they make your Kummerspeck grow.
Jetzt habben wir den Salat
Literally: now we have the salad. What’s wrong with that, you might think? But no: this expression means that everything has become a mess. A shambles, chaos, Salat!
Jetzt geht’s um die Wurst
Literally: now it’s about the sausage. Compare it to our million-dollar question, because this expression means: now it’s getting serious, now the tension is mounting.
Du hast nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank
Literally: you don’t have all the cups in the cupboard. You’ve guessed it: you’re not playing with a full deck, you’ve lost your marbles, you’ve fallen off the rocking horse—this expression means you’re not all there. Another tableware expression: du hast nen Sprung in der Schüssel, in other words: there’s a crack in your saucer, you’re not quite right in the head.
Du bist das Gelbe vom Ei
Literally: you are the egg yolk. Ahhh, romantic, because it means: you’re everything I need.
Du kommst in Teufelsküche
Literally: you’re heading into the devil’s kitchen. Is there a party in the devil’s kitchen? And what do we eat there? Nothing good, because this expression means that you’re in deep trouble.
Nun ist der Ofen aus
Literally: now the oven is off. In other words: close the book, case closed, that’s it, end of story.
Glüchspilz
Literally: lucky mushroom, an expression for a lucky person.
Read also:
- 5 reasons why I love the German Tankstelle
- Why German food is hübsch and gemütlich
- Know before you go: 12 German foods and drinks that sound funnier than they taste
Source: The Intrepid Guide, EF.be
