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Top ten German sayings

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Top ten German sayings
Photo: DPA

This latest instalment of The Local List hopes to shine a little light on some of the charming eccentricities of the German language.

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While German might not have a reputation for being the most creative of languages, Germans still have a wealth of funny sayings to draw on. The Local has put together a list of common ones to help avoid those awkward "lost in translation" situations.

Some, like “he’s a scaredy-rabbit” are twists on English favourites, whilst others such as “I understand only train station” can leave a non-native baffled, and may lead to minor diplomatic incidents.

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Either way, a working knowledge of idioms can help guide any non-German through a conversation with a local, so read on and take notes!

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