Let’s have some fun with this weird German language!
In this series of posts, I’ll show you how to make your German speaking colleagues laugh, with ONE simple sentence.
Halt die Ohren steif
(Hold the ears stiff)
Do you have a dog (einen Hund)?
Imagine a dog that is tired, sleeping on the floor (auf dem Boden).
But then, suddenly (plötzlich), it hears something and becomes completely alert…
The ears (die Ohren) suddenly get stiff (steif), trying to listen to the sounds of the surroundings, right?
In English, there is a very similar expression with a stiff lip.
Get the idea?
So when we say in German to a friend:
- Halt die Ohren steif!
we’re actually wishing him good luck:
- Keep your chin up!
- Keep a stiff upper lip!
- Keep your pecker up!
Got it?!
So here’s your action step:
Imagine your German-speaking colleague Helmut is about to leave for his next business trip (seine nächste Geschäftsreise).
Before you say goodbye to him, give him a hug (umarm ihn) and then tell him:
- Pass auf dich auf und halt die Ohren Steif! (Take care of yourself and keep your chin up!)
And this is what it sounds like: