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German lessons · Everyday German phrases · B1

Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof: fun German idioms people use every day

You've learned a fair bit of German, and then suddenly you're lost in a conversation with friends. You know every word, but the meaning makes no sense: that's an idiom (die Redewendung). When someone says "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof", they're not talking about a train station. You'll hear expressions like these far more often over lunch with colleagues or dinner with friends than in any textbook. Today we've picked the ones you really hear all the time in Germany. Remember that most of them are casual — for people you know well.

When you don't understand or don't care

  • Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof. — I don't understand a thing. (literally: I only understand "train station") Said with a laugh among friends and colleagues.
  • Das ist mir Wurst. — I don't mind either way. (literally: That's sausage to me) Very casual. In polite settings, Mir ist beides recht (Either is fine with me) sounds softer than Das ist mir egal.
  • Das ist nicht mein Bier. — That's not my business / not my problem. (literally: That's not my beer) Can sound a little blunt.

Wishing luck, or being lucky

  • Ich drücke dir die Daumen! — Good luck! I'll keep my fingers crossed! (literally: I'll press my thumbs for you) You'll hear it before every exam or job interview. With Sie: Ich drücke Ihnen die Daumen. In Germany you don't cross your fingers — you tuck your thumbs in and squeeze them with your other fingers.
  • Schwein gehabt! — That was lucky! (literally: had a pig) When you just catch the bus, or scrape through an exam.
  • Jetzt geht's um die Wurst. — This is it, it's make or break now. You'll often hear it before a big match or the day before an exam.

When you're surprised or fed up

  • Hast du Tomaten auf den Augen? — Are you blind? (literally: Have you got tomatoes on your eyes?) Teasing someone who can't see what's right in front of them. Only with close friends!
  • Ich glaube, ich spinne! — I don't believe it! This is crazy! Often used for an unpleasant surprise.
  • Da steppt der Bär. — That's where the party is. (literally: The bear is tap-dancing there) For a lively party or festival.
  • Ich habe einen Kater. — I've got a hangover. (der Kater means both "tomcat" and "hangover") Often heard the morning after a festival.

Short dialogue: the day before the exam

A: Na, bist du bereit für die Prüfung morgen? — So, are you ready for the exam tomorrow? B: Ehrlich gesagt nein. Bei Grammatik verstehe ich nur Bahnhof. — Honestly, no. Grammar is all Greek to me. A: Ach, das schaffst du schon. Ich drücke dir die Daumen! — Oh, you'll be fine. Fingers crossed! B: Danke! Morgen geht's um die Wurst. — Thanks! Tomorrow it's make or break. A: Und danach feiern wir. Bei Lisa steppt am Samstag der Bär. — And afterwards we'll celebrate. Lisa's party on Saturday is going to be wild. B: Super, aber bitte ohne Kater am Sonntag! — Great, but no hangover on Sunday, please!

Watch out

  • These are casual — don't use Das ist mir Wurst, Tomaten auf den Augen or Ich glaube, ich spinne with your boss or at a public office.
  • der Kater ≠ die Katze — der Kater is a tomcat or a hangover. "Ich habe einen Kater" more often doesn't mean someone has a cat.
  • The Daumen drücken gesture — in Germany, some people read crossed fingers as the sign you make when telling a lie. Tucking your thumbs in is the safe choice.

Quick check

  1. Your friend is off to a job interview. What do you say?
AnswerIch drücke dir die Daumen! — Good luck, fingers crossed!
  1. What does "Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof" mean?
AnswerIt means you don't understand anything at all. It has nothing to do with train stations.
  1. You only just caught the last train. Which phrase fits? (a) Schwein gehabt! (b) Das ist nicht mein Bier.
Answer(a) Schwein gehabt! — it means you were lucky.
ExpressionsB1 Genau! Ich sehe das anders: agreeing and disagreeing in GermanGermans say what they think clearly, in meetings and among friends. How to agree with Genau and Da hast du recht, and how to disagree politely with Ich sehe das anders and Das stimmt nicht ganz, for every situation.
ExpressionsA2 Entschuldigung, Tut mir leid, Danke: saying sorry and thank you in GermanBumping into someone on the street and forgetting an appointment call for different apologies. The difference between Entschuldigung and Tut mir leid, and how to answer Danke with Gern geschehen or Kein Problem — German you'll use several times a day.
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ExpressionsA2 Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren: formal German emails from the first line to the sign-offEmails to your landlord, the authorities, your insurance or a company follow a fixed pattern in German. Ready-to-use sentences for addressing the reader, explaining why you're writing, mentioning attachments, asking for something and signing off.