aus dem Handgelenk
Meaning: done with ease and without much effort or advance preparation; offhand.
Language: German
Literally: from the wrist
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The wrist as the flexible joint allowing the hand to move smoothly and fluidly without conscious effort, likening easy action to a natural wrist motion.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- feucht hinter den Ohren — Young, inexperienced, or naive.
- grün vor Neid — Consumed with jealousy or envious feeling.
- mundtot machen — to silence or suppress someone; to rob them of the ability or right to speak.
- wie ein Blinder von der Farbe reden — to discuss or explain something one has no direct experience or understanding of; to spea…
- jemandem in Fleisch und Blut übergehen — To become second nature or instinctive; to be absorbed so deeply that it feels like part…
- die Hände in den Schoß legen — To be idle or inactive; to do nothing while waiting or while problems accumulate.
More German idioms
- nur Bahnhof verstehen — to understand nothing at all of what is being said.
- von einem Tag auf den anderen — very quickly, suddenly, or overnight.
- Staub aufwirbeln — To cause trouble or create a dramatic disturbance.
- ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr — A person criticizes another for the same fault they themselves possess.
- außer Rand und Band geraten — To lose control and behave wildly or unruly.
- nah am Wasser gebaut — Someone who cries easily or is prone to tears.
From our tongue twisters
- Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz. — The German 'f' / 'sch' staple.
- Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. — A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
- Zehn zahme Ziegen ziehen zehn Zentner Zucker zum Zoo. — A sustained 'z' / 'ts' drill — every word starts with the same affricate.