Die Kuh vom Eis holen
Meaning: To resolve a precarious situation.
Language: German
Literally: To get the cow off the ice
Category: Animals
Origin: A cow stranded on a frozen pond must be coaxed off before it falls through — northern German imagery of averting disaster.
More idioms — Animals
- Eulen nach Athen tragen — To do something utterly pointless.
- Hummeln im Hintern haben — To be unable to sit still.
- Ser la oveja negra — To be the outcast of the family or group.
- Tirar o cavalo da chuva — To give up on an expectation.
- Pagar mico — To embarrass yourself publicly.
- Как сельдь в бочке (Kak sel'd' v bochke) — Packed together very tightly.
More German idioms
- 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.
- Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei — It's not ideal; not quite good enough.
- Alles in Butter — Everything is fine and under control.
From our compliments & insults
- Dickkopf — A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte — You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.
- Du bist ein Schatz — You're a sweetheart.