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German Idioms and Sayings Trivia Quiz

Like English, German is rich with idioms and sayings. However, 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' doesn't mean much when translated - German has its own version. To find out this and more have a go at this difficult, but interesting quiz.

A multiple-choice quiz by hews. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
hews

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
41,161

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2012

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In English, someone who has all of life's comforts is said to 'live like a king'? In German, how is such a person said to live? Hint

'like an actress in Hollywood'

'like a fox in a rabbit hole'

'like Caesar in Rome'

'like God in France'

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Question 2 of 10

2. In financial circles, which expression to German speakers commonly refer to as a lost cause? Hint

a calf without its mother

an overcast day

a keg without a bottom

a nine-man team

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Question 3 of 10

3. It's definitely true that silence is golden. In German this goes one step further. How? Hint

Whispering is silver, silence is golden

Silence is golden, singing is platinum

Talking is silver, silence is golden.

Silence is golden, talking is dirt

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Question 4 of 10

4. In English if something is very difficult to understand, someone might say 'That's all Greek to me'. Translated, what is the German equivalent of this saying? Hint

'I only understand railway station'

'Where does east meet west?'

'I can't read Egyptian'

'Where does the day begin and the night end?'

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Question 5 of 10

5. To go off on the wrong track is to bark up the wrong tree. What is a common equivalent in German? Hint

to shoot the wrong target

to drink the wrong beer

to bet on the wrong horse

to look for peas in a fruit shop

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Question 6 of 10

6. According to old German weather proverbs, which month 'does what it wants'? Hint

January

July

April

December

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Question 7 of 10

7. What do German speakers refer to colloquially as 'the upper class'? Hint

'the kings of the realm'

'the upper ten thousand'

'the cream of the cake'

'the powerful ones'

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Question 8 of 10

8. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face ... But what shouldn't you do in German? Hint

kill you the cow you get your milk from

knock out your tooth to spite your mouth

shoot your foe to damage his shirt

saw off the branch you are sitting on

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Question 9 of 10

9. It`s well known that the early bird catches the worm. But what happens in German? Hint

The sunrise has silver teeth

The first light is made of gold

The owl cowers in the morning hour

The morning hour has gold in its mouth

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Question 10 of 10

10. As mentioned above, 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' wouldn't mean much directly translated. What is the German version of this idiom? Hint

'one shouldn't look at a herring from behind'

'don't drink your wine before you've harvested the grapes'

'one shouldn't praise the day before the night'

'a horse with a bridle is still a horse'

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In English, someone who has all of life's comforts is said to 'live like a king'? In German, how is such a person said to live?

Answer: 'like God in France'

'wie Gott in Frankreich'.

2. In financial circles, which expression to German speakers commonly refer to as a lost cause?

Answer: a keg without a bottom

'ein Fass ohne Boden'

3. It's definitely true that silence is golden. In German this goes one step further. How?

Answer: Talking is silver, silence is golden.

'Reden ist Silber, Schweigen ist Gold'

4. In English if something is very difficult to understand, someone might say 'That's all Greek to me'. Translated, what is the German equivalent of this saying?

Answer: 'I only understand railway station'

'ich verstehe nur Bahnhof' (der Bahnhof - sing.)

5. To go off on the wrong track is to bark up the wrong tree. What is a common equivalent in German?

Answer: to bet on the wrong horse

'aufs falsche Pferd setzen' (das Pferd - die Pferde)

6. According to old German weather proverbs, which month 'does what it wants'?

Answer: April

'April, April, er macht was er will'

7. What do German speakers refer to colloquially as 'the upper class'?

Answer: 'the upper ten thousand'

'die oberen Zehntausend'

8. Don't cut off your nose to spite your face ... But what shouldn't you do in German?

Answer: saw off the branch you are sitting on

'man soll den Ast nicht abs�gen, auf dem man sitzt'

9. It`s well known that the early bird catches the worm. But what happens in German?

Answer: The morning hour has gold in its mouth

"Morgenstund' hat Gold im Mund'"

10. As mentioned above, 'don't count your chickens before they hatch' wouldn't mean much directly translated. What is the German version of this idiom?

Answer: 'one shouldn't praise the day before the night'

'man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben'

Source: Author hews

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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