IdiomFood & Drink
German
Germandie Suppe versalzen
Meaning: To ruin a plan or situation through careless excess.
Literally: To oversalt the soup
Example: “Mit seinem Kommentar hat er uns die Suppe versalzen.” — With that comment, he ruined the whole thing for us.
Origin: Oversalting someone's soup spoils the meal they were looking forward to, and nothing can take the salt back out. Jemandem die Suppe versalzen is ruining someone's plans or pleasure, often on purpose. Redensarten-Index notes that the phrase, with its easily understood image, has been in use since the 16th century.
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