
IdiomDaily Life
German
Hinz und Kunz
Meaning: Any ordinary person; everyone; the man in the street; used to refer to people indiscriminately or generically.
Literally: Hinz and Kunz
Example: “Zur Einweihung kamen Hinz und Kunz.” — Every Tom, Dick and Harry turned up for the housewarming.
English equivalent: Every Tom, Dick and Harry
Equivalents in other languages
English: every Tom, Dick and Harry
Origin: Hinz and Kunz are generic German first names, comparable to Tom, Dick and Harry in English; used together they represent the common, undifferentiated crowd.
More German idioms
- was das Zeug hält with maximum intensity or speed; to the absolute limit of one's capacity.
- bei der Stange halten to keep someone obedient, loyal, or in line through discipline or pressure.
- keine zehn Pferde nothing could force or move one; obstinate refusal or immovable determination.
- mundtot machen to silence or suppress someone; to rob them of the ability or right to speak.
- wie ein Blinder von der Farbe reden to discuss or explain something one has no direct experience or understanding of; to spea…
- an die Kandare nehmen To restrain, control, or impose discipline on someone.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn Even the least skilled person gets lucky now and then.
- Gewohnheit ist die zweite Natur Habits become as strong as instincts.
- Spare in der Zeit, so hast du in der Not Save when times are good so you have something when they're bad.
Keep exploring