GermanDie Kirche im Dorf lassen
Meaning: To keep things in proportion and not get carried away.
Literally: To leave the church in the village
Example: “Ein Kratzer am Kotflügel ist kein Weltuntergang; lass die Kirche im Dorf.” — A scratch on the fender isn't the end of the world; let's keep a sense of proportion.
Origin: The church is the center of the village, and leaving it there is keeping things as they are and in proportion. The phrase is used to tell someone not to exaggerate or overreach. German Wiktionary mentions two stories, one about processions that grew too large and marched "with the church around the village," and one about medieval village parishes refusing to give up their church to newly founded towns, but marks both as unsourced.
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