29. Basic Idioms in German

Idioms are phrases that have a meaning that is not immediately obvious from the individual words that make it up. They are an important part of any language and can make your speech more colorful and expressive. Here are 29 basic German idioms you should know.

1. Ins Gras beißen: Literally means "to bite the grass", but is used to indicate that someone has died. For example, "Er hat ins Gras gebissen" means "He died".
2. Das ist mir Wurst: Literally means "That's sausage for me", but is used to express indifference, similar to "I don't care" in English.
3. Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof: The literal translation is "I only understand the train station", but it is used when someone does not understand anything that is being said.
4. Tomaten auf den Augen haben: Literally means "to have tomatoes in your eyes". It is used when someone cannot find something that is right in front of them.
5. Die Nase voll haben: The literal translation is "to have a nose full", but it is used to express that someone is fed up with something.
6. Den Teufel an die Wand malen: Literally means "to paint the devil on the wall". It is used to describe someone who is predicting the worst.
7. Da liegt der Hund begraben: The literal translation is "that's where the dog is buried". It is used to indicate the heart of the matter.
8. Ein Ohr abkauen: Literally means "to chew on an ear". It is used to describe someone who is talking non-stop.
9. Das fünfte Rad am Wagen sein: The literal translation is "to be the fifth wheel of the chariot". It is used to describe someone who is unnecessary or leftovers.
10. Um den heißen Brei herumreden: Literally means "talk around the hot mush". It is used when someone is avoiding the main subject.
11. Die Daumen drücken: The literal translation is "to press the thumbs". It's equivalent to "fingers crossed" in English.
12. Die Kirche im Dorf lassen: Literally means "leave the church in the village". It is used to tell someone not to overdo it.
13. Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten: The literal translation is "to pour out the baby with the bath water". It is used to describe a situation where one gets rid of the good along with the bad.
14. Unter einer Decke stecken: Literally means "to be under the same blanket". It is used to indicate that two people are conspiring together.
15. Alles in Butter: The literal translation is "all in butter". It is used to express that all is well.
16. Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen: Literally means "hit the nail on the head". It is used to indicate that someone has hit exactly the right spot.
17. Die Flinte ins Korn werfen: The literal translation is "throw the shotgun in the corn". It is used to express that someone has given up.
18. Den Löffel abgeben: Literally means "hand over the spoon". It is used to indicate that someone has died.
19. Das Haar in der Suppe suchen: The literal translation is "look for the hair in the soup". It is used to describe someone who is always looking for trouble.
20. Wie ein Fisch auf dem Trockenen: Literally means "like a fish out of water". It is used to describe someone who feels uncomfortable or out of place.
21. Den Teufel tun: The literal translation is "to make the devil". It is used to express an emphatic refusal to do something.
22. Die Katze im Sack kaufen: Literally means "buy the cat in the bag". It is used to describe the situation where someone buys something without checking the quality first.
23. Das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen: The literal translation is "to promise the blue sky". It's used to describe someone who is making grandiose promises that they probably can't keep.
24. Den Kopf in den Sand stecken: Literally means "to stick your head in the sand". It is used to describe someone who is ignoring a problem.
25. Den Wald vor lauter Bäumen nicht sehen: The literal translation is "not to see the forest because of the trees". It is used to indicate that someone is so focused on the details that they miss the big picture.
26. Die Hände in den Schoß legen: Literally means "put your hands in your lap". It is used to describe someone who is surrendering or giving up.
27. Eine Extrawurst verlangen: The literal translation is "ask for an extra sausage". It is used to describe someone who is asking for special treatment.
28. Sich zum Affen machen: It means literaliterally "make a monkey out of yourself". It is used to describe someone who is making a fool of themselves.
29. Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt: The literal translation is "hope dies last". It is used to express that there is always hope, no matter how bad the situation seems.

These idioms are a great way to improve your German, making your speech more natural and fluent. Practice them regularly and you'll be speaking like a native in no time!