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 — 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.

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