IdiomThe Absurd
German
Germangehüpft wie gesprungen
Meaning: It makes no difference; the distinction between two things is negligible.
Literally: Hopped as jumped
Example: “Bus oder Bahn ist gehüpft wie gesprungen: beide dauern zwanzig Minuten.” — Bus or train is six of one, half a dozen of the other: both take twenty minutes.
English equivalent: Six of one, half a dozen of the other
Equivalents in other languages
Chinese: 半斤八两 (bàn jīn bā liǎng) Literally: Half a jin, eight liang
Hungarian: Egyik kutya, másik eb Literally: One is a dog, the other is a hound
French: C'est kif-kif Literally: It's kif-kif
English: six of one, half a dozen of the other
Origin: The image sets hopping against jumping: two nearly identical ways of leaving the ground, so choosing between them makes no practical difference.
More German idioms
- über den Jordan gehen To die.
- kein unbeschriebenes Blatt sein To be a person whose background, reputation, or history is already known.
- einen Vogel zeigen To tap one's forehead at someone, a rude gesture meaning "you're crazy."
- die Hände in den Schoß legen To be idle or inactive; to do nothing while waiting or while problems accumulate.
- etwas auf seine Kappe nehmen To accept blame or responsibility for something.
- jemanden zur Schnecke machen To scold or rebuke someone harshly; to give someone a severe dressing-down.
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus. A relentless 'h' aspirate drill — every word opens with the same breathy attack.
- Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz. The German 'f' / 'sch' staple.
- Blaukraut bleibt Blaukraut und Brautkleid bleibt Brautkleid. A 'bl' / 'br' brain-twister.
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