{"id":3770,"date":"2012-04-16T13:36:40","date_gmt":"2012-04-16T13:36:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=3770"},"modified":"2012-04-13T13:36:53","modified_gmt":"2012-04-13T13:36:53","slug":"german-idiomatic-expressions-rund-ums-ohr-all-about-the-ear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-idiomatic-expressions-rund-ums-ohr-all-about-the-ear\/","title":{"rendered":"German Idiomatic Expressions: Rund ums \u201cOhr\u201d\u2013 All about the \u201cear\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"
In my last post I already began to talk about idioms \u2013 fixed phrases whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meanings of the individual words. This time I would like to focus on idioms that have to do with the ear because there are many useful German idioms, containing the \u2018ear\u2019, that will help you to become a more competent language user in almost no time at all.<\/p>\n
It would be wise to learn as many German idioms as possible because idioms are a very important component of language. Indeed, most of interpersonal communication is idiomatic.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n\n
\n
\n
German<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n
Explanation<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n
\n
English<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
ganz Ohr sein<\/td>\n
to listen to sth.\/sb. With excitement and undivided attention<\/td>\n
to be all ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Augen und Ohren offen halten<\/td>\n
to follow something attentively<\/td>\n
to keep one\u2019s eyes and ears open<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemandem klingel die Ohren<\/td>\n
Folk belief: someone is talking about you behind your back<\/td>\n
Lit. someone\u2019s ears are ringing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
die Ohren auf Durchzug stellen<\/td>\n
That what is\/was said remains unheard; it enters one ear and immediately exits the other; Durchzug = draught<\/td>\n
to go deaf<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden die Ohren voll jammern<\/td>\n
Coll. to bother someone with one\u2019s worries or problems<\/td>\n
to harp on about one\u2019s problems<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden die Ohren lang ziehen<\/td>\n
To reproach or rebuke sb.<\/td>\n
Lit. to stretch someone\u2019s ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
auf taube Ohren sto\u00dfen<\/td>\n
To not achieve anything with one\u2019s admonitions, suggestions, or concerns<\/td>\n
to fall on deaf ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
seinen Ohren nicht trauen<\/td>\n
To be completely by the heard<\/td>\n
To not believe one\u2019s ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
auf seinen Ohren sitzen<\/td>\n
Coll. not listening<\/td>\n
Lit. to sit on one\u2019s ears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
sich auf\u2019s Ohr hauen<\/td>\n
Coll. to get some sleep<\/td>\n
to hit the hay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden eins hinter die Ohren geben<\/td>\n
to cuff sb.; to box sb.\u2019s ear<\/td>\n
To give somebody a thick ear<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
ins Ohr gehen<\/td>\n
Very catchy\/memorable<\/td>\n
to be catchy<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden in den Ohren liegen<\/td>\n
to badger sb. by permanent requesting, complaining, etc.<\/td>\n
to pester sb.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
bis \u00fcber beide Ohren verliebt sein<\/td>\n
to be totally in love<\/td>\n
to be head over ears (heels) in love<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
bis \u00fcber beide Ohren in Arbeit stecken<\/td>\n
to have to do a lot of work<\/td>\n
to be fully immersed in work<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden etwas um die Ohren hauen<\/td>\n
to reproach\/criticize sb.<\/td>\n
to beat sb. round the head with sth.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
viel um die Ohren haben<\/td>\n
Coll. to be very busy<\/td>\n
to have a lot\/enough on one\u2019s plate<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
hinter die Ohren schreiben<\/td>\n
the demand to remember something<\/td>\n
be sure to remember sth.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Die Ohren steif halten<\/td>\n
to not to loose courage, endurance, etc.<\/td>\n
to keep a stiff upper lip<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Das Fell \u00fcber die Ohren ziehen<\/td>\n
to betray someone<\/td>\n
to milk the pigeon; to flay sb. alive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
Dein Wort in Gottes Ohr!<\/td>\n
Someone\u2019s wish may come true.<\/td>\n
From your lips to God\u2019s ears. \/ Let\u2019s hope so, by goodness!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
die Nacht um die Ohren schlagen<\/td>\n
to stay up all night<\/td>\n
to pull an all-nighter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
jemanden \u00fcbers Ohr hauen<\/td>\n
to cheat sb.<\/td>\n
to get the better of sb. \/ to pull a fast one on sb.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
es faustdick hinter den Ohren haben<\/td>\n
to be a sly<\/td>\n
to be a deep me \/ to be a sly old dog<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\n
einen Floh im Ohr haben<\/td>\n
Coll. to not to be in one\u2019s right mind<\/td>\n
to have a bug in one\u2019s ear \/ to have a bee in the bonnet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
In my last post I already began to talk about idioms \u2013 fixed phrases whose meaning cannot be inferred from the meanings of the individual words. This time I would like to focus on idioms that have to do with the ear because there are many useful German idioms, containing the \u2018ear\u2019, that will help…<\/p>\n