auf dem Damm

Meaning: In good health and spirits, recovered from illness or hardship.

Literally: On the dam

Example: “Nach zwei Wochen Grippe ist die Oma wieder auf dem Damm.” — After two weeks of flu, Grandma is back on her feet.

English equivalent: To be back on one's feet

Equivalents in other languages

French: Reprendre du poil de la bête Literally: To take back some hair of the beast
English: get back on one's feet

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Origin: A Damm is a dike, where one is safe from flooding, and in northern Germany also a paved road, as in Berlin's Kurfürstendamm, as against muddy tracks. The Grimms' dictionary records einen auf den Damm bringen for helping someone back on their feet, and the phrase wieder auf dem Damm sein (back on the road) arose in northern Germany around 1850 for being healthy and fit again.

More German idioms

aus dem Off From off-screen or offstage; said of a voice heard without the speaker being seen, or of…
den Geist aufgeben to die, or to cease functioning.
um ein Haar by the narrowest possible margin; almost not.
etwas auf die lange Bank schieben to postpone or delay something indefinitely.
in die Quere kommen to interfere with someone, to get in the way or obstruct.
aus dem Handgelenk done with ease and without much effort or advance preparation; offhand.

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Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.

Handy Actually means 'a mobile phone'. For handy/useful, say praktisch.
Fast Actually means 'almost'. For fast/quick, say schnell.
Rock Actually means 'skirt'. A rock (stone) is ein Stein.

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Equivalents in other languages

More idioms — Nature

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