English-to-German Idioms
- by Ktcakes of Stillwater -
Bulletin Board
The Saint Paul Pioneer Press
(04/21/2015)
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OK, I'm game. I would be happy to share my nominations for most obnoxious and overused expressions that make my skin crawl: 'At the end of the day'; 'Moving forward'; 'It is what it is'; 'I know, right?'
A couple years ago, I was in a German hotel, waiting to meet up with my brother and sister-in-law. I had the TV on because it was fun to watch German-speaking TV, trying to figure out what they were talking about. There was a movie on, something in the vein of Valley Girls. There were three teenaged girls walking down the street, angsting, and one of them said: 'Oh Mein Gott!' Cracked me up! Suddenly the offending 'Oh My God' didn't seem so bad anymore, when it was expressed in another language.
So now, whenever I hear an overused expression, I translate it to German. I figure I can learn the language, one idiotic idiom at a time. If they overuse the expressions as much as we do, it'll practically make me fluent!
So now, whenever I hear an overused expression, I translate it to German. I figure I can learn the language, one idiotic idiom at a time. If they overuse the expressions as much as we do, it'll practically make me fluent!
Here's how to improve 'Oh My God! It is what it is!' ...
Try this: 'Oh Mein Gott! Es ist was es ist!'
Try this: 'Oh Mein Gott! Es ist was es ist!'
'Es ist was es ist!'
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