IdiomDaily Life
German
GermanDa kannst du Gift drauf nehmen
Meaning: You can bet your life on it; it's absolutely certain.
Literally: You can take poison on it
Example: “Sie kommt zu spät, da kannst du Gift drauf nehmen.” — She'll be late; I'd stake my life on it.
English equivalent: To stake one's life on it
Origin: You can take poison on it: so sure is the speaker that they would swallow poison as a bet. The phrase is recorded only from the second half of the 19th century, and its origin is unclear. Some link it to medieval trials by ordeal, but Redensarten-Index notes that no ordeal by poison is recorded in Germany, so the phrase is more likely a modern intensifier modeled on that kind of oath.
Equivalents in other languages
Filipino: Itaga mo sa bato Literally: Carve it in stone
French: Mettre ses deux mains au feu Literally: To put both hands in the fire
English: stake one's life on it
More German idioms
- Da wird der Hund in der Pfanne verrückt An exclamation of utter disbelief.
- Die Kuh vom Eis holen To resolve a precarious situation.
- Sein blaues Wunder erleben To get an unpleasant surprise.
- Da haben wir den Salat Now we've got a fine mess.
- Den Löffel abgeben To die.
- Ins Fettnäpfchen treten To commit an embarrassing social blunder.
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