Last Updated on May 1, 2023
In this part I collect German idioms (Redewendungen) expressing surprise and astonish.
Expressions that are noted as “common” in sources or that I have come across in books are printed in bold. usg. – umgangssprachlich (colloquial)
It can be interesting:
German synonyms. öffnen – offen – aufmachen
Anki for German language. 1. Studying
German. False participles
Blume vs Blüte
Difference between enden and beenden, abschließen, aufhören
Difference between merken and bemerken and other words for memory and notice
Difference between achten and beachten, aufpassen, Acht geben
Expression of surprise in German
Was du nicht sagst!
What are you talking about! Oh really! (met often)
it is used as an expression of real surprise, and with irony (“I already know this, also it is not news to me”)
“Was du nicht sagst!” staunte Inge, “wie bist du auf die Idee gekommen?”
“Was du nicht sagst”, erwiderte Carl Brenten höhnisch.
Das ist ein Hammer! (ugs.)
Awesome! (“yes it’s a hammer!”)
Große Gott!
Oh my God!
(and a lot of variations on the theme of God, like Holy Heaven! etc.)
Mannomann! Mann oh Mann!
something like: There are such people! Wow!
Das ist ja irre!
Ich werd’ verrückt!
Wow! I will go crazy!
Alter Schwede!
(“old Swede”)
Gosh!
an expression originally from Prussia during the period after the 30-year war, when experienced soldiers of the Swedish army were recruited into the Prussian army to drill soldiers
Das ist ja ein dicker Hund!
This is unheard-of!
Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt
(“the dog will go crazy in the frying pan”)
Incredible!
The expression is associated with the legend of Till Ulenspiegel, who literally took the words of the owner and sent the dog to the pan
Mich laust der Affe!
(“a monkey combing me out!”)
Well well! I was stunned!
The expression is included in the lists of “most favorite”, but in reality it is not used so often
Ich denke (glaube, sehe) nicht recht (richtig)
I can’t believe my eyes / ears!
Das ist ohne Worter
No words!
Das schlägt dem Fass den Boden aus
(“it will knock the bottom of the barrel”)
That’s too much! It goes the all limits!
The expression comes from the trade of drinks in barrels: if the bottom of the barrel is knocked out, then the entire contents are immediately poured out
Das ist doch nicht zu glauben
das gibt doch gar nicht!
Das darf nicht wahr sein!
It’s impossible to believe
It can’t be!
It can not be true!
Wer hätte das gedacht
Who would have thought
Da kann man sich nur an den Kopf fassen (greifen)
You can only hold your head there
A number of expressions-alterations from students as a result of competitions in wit
Ich glaub’ mich tritt ein Pferd (“I think I was kicked by a horse”)
mich knutscht ein Elch / ein Haifisch (it seems to me that I am being squeezed (kissed) by an elk / shark)
ich steh’ im Wald (I think I’m in the forest)
mein Schwein pfeift (I think my pig is whistling)
Expression of state of surprise
(große) Augen machen
make big eyes
“Und wenn der Alte nach Hause kommt”, sagte er manchmal, wird er auf jeden Fall große Augen machen”
jemanden vom Hocker / Stuhl hauen
(fast) vom Hocker fallen
Das haut mich (glatt) vom Stuhl!
Ich bin fast vom Stuhl gefallen / gekippt!
“knock someone off the chair” (so surprise someone that he falls off the chair)
I almost fell off my chair!
platt wie ein Pfannkuchen (eine Briefmarke) sein
(“be as flat as a pancake (a postage stamp)”)
be petrified, amazed
wie vor den Kopf geschlagen sein
to be stunned
Da bleibt einem die Luft weg
That leaves you breathless
jemandem klappt die Kinnlade herunter
someone’s jaw drops
wie vom Blitz getroffen werden
like being struck by lightning
mit offenem Mund dastehen
stand there with your mouth open
An unexpected, unpleasant surprise
jemanden kalt / eiskalt erwischen
kalt / eiskalt erwischt werden
(“to catch someone cold / ice cold”)
take someone by surprise, catch with the goods, drop from the clouds, get an unpleasant surprise
The expression came from sports: win a point against a cold opponent immediately after the start of the game
Follow me
ein Schlag ins Kontor
(“a blow to the office”)
unpleasant surprise
kontor – a place where important papers are stored, accounting
Jemandem auf dem falschen Fuß erwischen
(“Get someone on the wrong foot”)
catch by surprise
from sports
Sein blaues Wunder erleben
(“Experience his blue miracle”)
be amazed (unpleasant)
Das ist eine schöne Bescherung / Geschichte
Ach du liebes Bisschen!
Such a surprise! Nice present!
Nice job! That’s the story!
irony or sarcasm (liebes Bisschen – tasty)
aus allen Wolken fallen
(“fall from heaven to earth”)
to be caught completely by surprise
wie ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel
unexpected, out of the blue
Other German idioms list – #idioms in german
For expample:
Talk
Talk – too much, too little
Stupidity, madness. Part 1
Stupidity, madness. Part 2
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