German idioms
What does “Hals- und Beinbruch” mean?
Hals- und Beinbruch
Word for word
Breaking of neck and leg
What it really means
Good luck! You wish the opposite precisely so as not to jinx it, before an exam, an opening night or a journey.
How we say it in English
Break a leg
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Die Nase voll haben
To be fed up
Jemandem die Daumen drücken
To keep one's fingers crossed
Die Hand für jemanden ins Feuer legen
To vouch for someone
Den Kopf in den Sand stecken
To bury one's head in the sand
Sich etwas hinter die Ohren schreiben
To get it into one's head
Haare auf den Zähnen haben
To not take any nonsense