aus der Portokasse zahlen

Meaning: To pay a large sum without difficulty because one has abundant resources.

Literally: To pay from the postage kitty

Example: “Für den Konzern ist die Strafe aus der Portokasse gezahlt.” — For that corporation, the fine is pocket change.

English equivalent: To be pocket change

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Portokasse is the petty-cash fund for minor postage expenses; the phrase pictures treating a major expense as if it were trivially small.

jemandem in Fleisch und Blut übergehen To become second nature or instinctive; to be absorbed so deeply that it feels like part…
eine Schraube locker haben To be slightly eccentric or mentally unbalanced.
gehüpft wie gesprungen It makes no difference; the distinction between two things is negligible.
über den Jordan gehen To die.
einen Vogel zeigen To tap one's forehead at someone, a rude gesture meaning "you're crazy."
die Hände in den Schoß legen To be idle or inactive; to do nothing while waiting or while problems accumulate.

Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.

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