What does this German rhyme mean, "Bier auf Wein, das lasse sein. Wein auf Bier, das rat ich dir," and are there equivalents to this rhyme in other languages, for example English?

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What does this German rhyme mean, "Bier auf Wein, das lasse sein. Wein auf Bier, das rat ich dir," and are there equivalents to this rhyme in other languages, for example English?

Question #91033. Asked by author.
Last updated Oct 01 2016.

Related Trivia Topics: World English

piglet2002
Answer has 11 votes

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piglet2002

Answer has 11 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.

When I lived in Germany, the phrase I was taught was "Bier auf wein, lass das sein, Wein auf bier, rat ich dir," in other words, to translate literally, "Beer on top of wine, leave it alone, wine on top of beer is to be recommended." Haven't got a clue why, though. A mixture in either order is, in my experience, not a good idea!

Nov 10 2002, 5:43 PM

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Answer 1

Fosse4
Answer has 2 votes

Fosse4

Answer has 2 votes.

It's "Cider on Beer and you'll feel queer!"

Nov 09 2002, 10:02 PM

Answer 2

Hiccup
Answer has 2 votes

Hiccup

Answer has 2 votes.

'Wine is fine...but liquor is quicker.'

Nov 10 2002, 3:29 AM

Answer 3

I always say wine on beer feels queer, beer on wine feels fine. It works for me and I think that if you are tanked up on beer and then drink wine your body is processing the last half an hour - hour's beer while you are drinking the wine and then the wine is processed and you may find yourself a lot drunker than you intended to be.

Answer 4

Chippy
Answer has 5 votes

Chippy
24 year member
38 replies

Answer has 5 votes.

I learned it as: Liquor before beer, you're in the clear. Beer before liquor, you'll never be sicker.

Nov 10 2002, 8:50 PM

Answer 5

The closest translation I can find is "Wine to beer, I give you the rat."

See translated version of:

http://de.wikiquote.org/wiki/Wein

Or possibly, "First beer then wine is fine, but wine then beer, oh dear!"

http://german.about.com/library/blidioms_eB.htm

It appears to be a German proverb.

Answer 6

jci
Answer has 2 votes

jci

Answer has 2 votes.

Beer on wine this let be,
Wine on beer advise I you

English version "Beer then whiskey mighty risky, whiskey then beer you're in the clear!"

Jan 11 2008, 3:02 PM

Answer 7

Flem-ish
Answer has 4 votes

Flem-ish
24 year member
894 replies avatar

Answer has 4 votes.

Dutch has a similar saying.
"Bier op wijn is venijn". Beer on wine is poison.("venom")
"Wijn op bier geeft plezier". Wine on beer gives you pleasure.

Jan 11 2008, 3:59 PM

Answer 8

author
Answer has 4 votes

author
23 year member
2834 replies

Answer has 4 votes.

I was amused by your versions, and will give you mine, in Norwegian:
Øl, så vin, så blir du fin.
Vin, så øl, så blir det søl.
Of course, the point is: Start with the beer, and end with the wine (this is universal).

Jan 11 2008, 9:33 PM

Answer 9

jaa91

Answer has 3 votes

jaa91

Answer has 3 votes.

Another one-

"Beer before liquor, never sicker. Liquor before beer, never fear."

Jan 11 2008, 11:25 PM

Answer 10

bercsikati
Answer has 2 votes

bercsikati

Answer has 2 votes.

We have this proverb in Hungarian, too:
Sörre bor mindenkor,
borra sör meggyötör.

It means: wine after beer - it suits always
beer after wine - makes you sick

Jun 06 2008, 9:44 PM

Answer 11

queproblema
Answer has 5 votes

queproblema
19 year member
2119 replies

Answer has 5 votes.

"Beer then wine, you'll feel fine. Wine then beer, you'll feel queer,"

or

"Beer on wine, you'll feel fine"

Response last updated by gtho4 on Oct 01 2016.
Jun 06 2008, 9:59 PM

Answer 12

Degaman
Answer has 5 votes

Degaman

Answer has 5 votes.

Beer after wine, leave that alone;
Wine after beer, that's good for you.

Six years in Germany and married to a German for 8.5 years.

May 02 2010, 7:38 PM

Answer 13

I just opened an account to add the spanish version haha

"Quien pasa de la cerveza al vino va por buen camino y quien pasa del vino a la cerveza lo lleva de cabeza."

"whom ever goes from beer to wine, on good road is and whom ever goes from wine to beer, is upside down"

What does this German rhyme mean, "Bier auf Wein, das lasse sein. Wein auf Bier, das rat ich dir," and are there equivalents to this rhyme in other languages, for example English?

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