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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
2009

Last 3 plays: runaway_drive (9/10), reeshy (5/10), masfon (8/10).

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 God in France'

'like Caesar in Rome'

'like a fox in a rabbit hole'

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

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

a keg without a bottom

a nine-man team

an overcast day

a calf without its mother

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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

Silence is golden, singing is platinum

Talking is silver, silence is golden.

Silence is golden, talking is dirt

Whispering is silver, silence is golden

NEXT>

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 can't read Egyptian'

'I only understand railway station'

'Where does east meet west?'

'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 drink the wrong beer

to bet on the wrong horse

to look for peas in a fruit shop

to shoot the wrong target

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Question 6 of 10

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

July

April

December

January

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

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

'the powerful ones'

'the kings of the realm'

'the upper ten thousand'

'the cream of the cake'

NEXT>

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

saw off the branch you are sitting on

shoot your foe to damage his shirt

knock out your tooth to spite your mouth

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

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

The morning hour has gold in its mouth

The owl cowers in the morning hour

The sunrise has silver teeth

The first light is made of gold

NEXT>

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 praise the day before the night'

'a horse with a bridle is still a horse'

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

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

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Most Recent Scores

Mar 27 2024 : runaway_drive: 9/10
Mar 27 2024 : reeshy: 5/10
Mar 27 2024 : masfon: 8/10
Mar 27 2024 : Midget40: 3/10
Mar 27 2024 : stephedm: 3/10

Score Distribution

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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