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Peculiar German Expressions Trivia Quiz

All languages have sayings that sound strange when translated. See if you know or can guess what these expressions mean.

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

Author
Catamount

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
207,612

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
2708

Awards
Top 10% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Somebody who is driving very fast is said to acquire this strange item. Which? Hint

A cow's tail

A cat's paw

A monkey's tooth

A sheep's tongue

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Question 2 of 10

2. What is the German equivalent of "Average Joe"? Hint

Fritz Hinterwusterhausen

Uwe Bratkartoffel

Hans Guckindieluft

Otto Normalverbraucher

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Question 3 of 10

3. Germans have many sayings related to dogs. Which one of these means: "to go to the dogs"? Hint

Da liegt der Hund begraben

Vor die Hunde gehen

Heulen wie ein Schlosshund

Ein Hundewetter

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Question 4 of 10

4. Another dog-related expression is "des Pudels Kern" or "the poodle's core", meaning the essence of something as opposed to its appearance. Which famous German coined the expression? Hint

Goethe

Heine

Schiller

Kant

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Question 5 of 10

5. What is the German equivalent for "out of the frying pan into the fire"? Hint

Auf dem Holzweg sein

Vom Regen in die Traufe kommen

Zur Salzsaeule werden

Den Faden verlieren

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Question 6 of 10

6. The German equivalent of "first come, first served" used to be enshrined in law.

True

False

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Question 7 of 10

7. "Getting a pink slip" means to get fired. What colour is used in the equivalent German expression? Hint

Lavender

Green

Blue

Yellow

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Question 8 of 10

8. A black eye in German is "ein blaues Auge" (literally a "blue eye"). Which "flowery" term means the same thing? Hint

Enzian

Kornblume (Corn flower)

Veilchen (Violet)

Blaue Orchidee (Blue Orchid)

9. "Die Axt im Haus erspart den Zimmermann" - "If you've got your own axe you don't need a carpenter" sounds like a modern do-it-yourself promotion but is really a quotation from what famous German play? Hint

Wilhelm Tell

Die Heimat

Faust

Lucretia

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Question 10 of 10

10. The expression "zum Maeusemelken" refers to? Hint

Frustration

Sadness

Fear

Love

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Somebody who is driving very fast is said to acquire this strange item. Which?

Answer: A monkey's tooth

"Sich einen Affenzahn zulegen" means literally "to obtain a monkey's tooth", the meaning is "to drive very fast". It probably has to do with gear teeth and the fact that monkeys can move quickly. There are similar expressions with slightly different wording around as German is a language with strong regional dialects and idioms.

2. What is the German equivalent of "Average Joe"?

Answer: Otto Normalverbraucher

"Otto Ordinaryconsumer" comes from a 1948 movie.

3. Germans have many sayings related to dogs. Which one of these means: "to go to the dogs"?

Answer: Vor die Hunde gehen

This saying likely comes from hunting; ie an old or sick deer will more easily fall prey to the hounds. A similar expression is "auf den Hund gekommen" - meaning "to lose everything". "Da liegt der Hund begraben - That's were the dog is buried" means the cause or core of something; "Heulen wie ein Schlosshund - To cry like a chained dog" [literally, "castle or palace dog"] ) - to cry a lot"; "Hundewetter - [literally "dog weather"] - "foul weather". (Compare with "Its raining cats and dogs - I just stepped into a poodle!")

4. Another dog-related expression is "des Pudels Kern" or "the poodle's core", meaning the essence of something as opposed to its appearance. Which famous German coined the expression?

Answer: Goethe

In the play "Faust", Mephisto first appears as a poodle. When he reveals himself, Faust exclaims: "Das also war des Pudels Kern". Note: German doesn't use an apostrophe for the possessive.

5. What is the German equivalent for "out of the frying pan into the fire"?

Answer: Vom Regen in die Traufe kommen

To get out of the rain by standing under the drain pipe only means you'll get even wetter. "Auf dem Holzweg sein" - to be on the wood way or wrong about something; "zur Salzsaeule werden" - to turn into a pillar of salt means to be amazed or shocked stiff by something; "den Faden verlieren" - to lose one's thread or train of thought.

6. The German equivalent of "first come, first served" used to be enshrined in law.

Answer: True

"Wer zuerst kommt, mahlt zuerst" means "He who gets (to the mill) first, is the first to grind (his corn)". This was contained in the "Sachsenspiegel", one of the oldest German legal codes.

7. "Getting a pink slip" means to get fired. What colour is used in the equivalent German expression?

Answer: Blue

Dismissal letters used to be sent in blue envelopes. "Ein blauer Brief" can also refer to an unwelcome official letter.

8. A black eye in German is "ein blaues Auge" (literally a "blue eye"). Which "flowery" term means the same thing?

Answer: Veilchen (Violet)

It is not clear why the humble and inoffensive violet has lent its name to this condition. Interestingly, fists and eyes are considered to have a natural connection in German: if something is a perfect fit "das passt wie die Faust aufs Auge" - (literally) "it fits like the fist on the eye". On the other hand, the romantic Germans have many songs featuring "Veilchen" the flower.

More irreverent Germans are making fun of these in satirical songs that feature the other meaning of "Veilchen".

Answer: Wilhelm Tell

Both Schiller and Goethe have supplied many German idioms and sayings, just as a lot of Shakespeare quotations have become English sayings.

10. The expression "zum Maeusemelken" refers to?

Answer: Frustration

I suppose "milking mice" would be a frustrating experience.

Source: Author Catamount

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