auf keinen grünen Zweig kommen

Meaning: To fail to achieve success or prosperity, to make no progress in life or a project.

Language: German

Literally: to not come onto any green branch

Category: Nature

Origin: The phrase pictures a tree without green, flourishing branches—a symbol of stagnation and barrenness rather than growth.

More idioms — Nature

über den Jordan gehen — To die.
mettere radici — to settle in a place permanently or commit to something long-term.
sulle spine — In a state of anxious suspense or nervous tension, unable to relax.
alla lontana — In an indirect or roundabout way; distantly or remotely connected.
toccare il fondo — To reach the lowest point of degradation or despair; to hit rock bottom.
dove non batte il sole — In a place that is dark, hidden, or not respectable; a euphemism for somewhere very undes…

grün vor Neid — Consumed with jealousy or envious feeling.
Hinz und Kunz — Any ordinary person; everyone; the man in the street; used to refer to people indiscrimin…
keine halben Sachen machen — To commit fully to something; to be thorough and complete rather than halfhearted or comp…
was das Zeug hält — with maximum intensity or speed; to the absolute limit of one's capacity.
die Zelte abbrechen — to move away or leave a place; to abandon one's position.
bei der Stange halten — to keep someone obedient, loyal, or in line through discipline or pressure.

Loading the full interactive collection…