So my DE teacher has thrown out a challenge to us to prepare several sayings in DE under the theme of the Human Anatomy and I thought I'd tap into the forum members' wealth of knowledge.

I am mindful of this useful page:

http://www.deutschseite.de/textarbei...wendungen.html

but am keen to discover if members can contribute others, perhaps the rarely used ones including a simple explanation and / or an example in EN.

OK

Kopf und Kragen riskieren


meaning in EN: If you risk "Kopf und Kragen" you risk everything. It can mean all your money or even your life.


Not OK:Unrelated to the Human Anatomy

Many thanks in advance.

Okay, here's my attempt at a positive contribution
Langfinger (as alternative term for a thief)
sich an der eigene Nase fassen to introspect, consider that the problem may be with oneself
über den eigenen Schatten springen (okay, not really anatomy, but almost)
sich die Zähne ausbeissen to tackle something that's too much for you
sich die Ohren spitzen to pay attention

Bier auf Wein, lass das sein; Wein auf Bier, das rat ich Dir.
Alter schützt vor Torheit nicht.
Hunde, die bellen, beißen nicht
In der Kürze liegt die Würze
Morgenstunde hat Gold im Munde.
Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold
Viele Köche verderben den Brei
Was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen.
Was sich liebt, das neckt sich
Wer anderen eine Grube gräbt, fällt selbst hinein
Zeit ist Geld

Holzkopf

First time I hear / read that in a reflexive form. I'd say, "Er spitzte die Ohren," not "Er spitzte sich die Ohren."

Thanks for all the other, good examples!

für rote Köpfe Sorgen: something gets people angry
example: "Neue Bauzone sorgt für rote Köpfe" This was the title of an article about a re-zoning of an area that the locals see as a kind of expropriation.

auf der Hand liegen: something is obvious or clear

die Daumen drucken: cross your fingers (for luck)

Ohrfeige: slap in/across the face. (ok, not a saying but such a weird word.)

Jemandem auf die Zehen treten.
To step on someone's toes.

Den Kopf/Hals aus der Schlinge ziehen.
To get out of a tight spot/to take the head out of loop(?)

Mit einem Bein im Knast/Kittchen/Gefängnis stehen.
To stand in prison with one leg/to do smth in a legal grey are/illegal/bad.

Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben.
"to have a plank in front of the head"/to be dumb/slow.

Tomaten auf den Augen haben.
"to have tomatos on the eyes"/not being able to see smth obvious.

Einen Zahn zulegen.
To do smth faster/to go faster.
(not sure if it is anatomy related, it probably is the Zahn/tooth of a cog wheel)

"jemandem auf die Nerven gehen" = "to go on the nerves" i.e. to bother / annoy someone (he's a pain in the neck)

also "den Ersatznerv reissen" = Ersatznerv would be an "additional nerve" / extra nerve and even that on is about to break

or

"er / das braucht Nerven" = one needs a lot of patience to deal with someone / something

I very much prefer if a woman has a bit of "Holz vor der Hütte".

"Holz vor der Hütte haben" = Have some wood in front of one's den/ having (big) breasts.

(jemandem) den Kopf waschen - to put sense into someone / give someone a piece of your mind

Are you looking for straight-up explanations, or for English proverbs that correspond to these?

Grosse Augen machen = to be very astonished/surprised/

also used when somebody embarrasses somebody/ group of people.

never heard that one. must be swiss a saying?!

noose is the word you were looking for, as in hangman's noose.

It's only "die Ohren spitzen" - without "sich".

Auf grossem Fuss leben

To live a lavish lifestlye

kalte Füsse bekommen

to backpedal or to chicken out

That's actually a helvetism IMO.
I've never seen this term in Germany.
But recently, I see some helvetisms creeping up in the German press nevertheless. One example is the term "velo" (bike).
In Germany, it's normally "Fahrrad" or just "Rad" - but I've seen the Swiss term used more often.

yes, I know, my typo. sorry.

I also think its also journalism. I read it in the paper a lot but have never heard it in casual conversation.

its used in (high) german as well. but the context is more (to my knowledge) related to what we call "fremdschämen". means: if said person said or did something very embarrassing..you have a rush of blood to the head yourself for/beacause of what the person did or just said (eg greater audience)

"Ich habe einen Frosch im Hals"; I think the same saying exists in English, but if there are not only English speakers in your class it still might be interesting for them...

So let's get on to the more interesting parts of anatomy:

Jemanden Zucker in den Arsch blasen - "to blow sugar into someones ass" - meaning: to suck up to someone.

Jemanden geht der Arsch auf Grundeis - "someones hitting anchor ice with his ass" - meaning: somebody is "shitting bricks"

Jemanden schein die Sonne aus dem Arsch - the sun is shining from someones... - meaning: somebody is very happy.

Jemanden mit dem Arsch ins Gesicht springen - to jump ass-ahead into somebody's face - meaning: threaten/attack somebody...


Your teacher is going to love me for this...