IdiomAnimals
German
GermanHummeln im Hintern haben
Meaning: To be unable to sit still.
Literally: To have bumblebees in your behind
Example: “Der Kleine hat Hummeln im Hintern und kann keine Minute sitzen.” — The little boy has ants in his pants and can't sit still for a minute.
English equivalent: Ants in one's pants
Origin: Bumblebees in the backside would make anyone jump up and fidget. The image is old enough to appear in Luther's collection of proverbs, and its popularity probably owes something to the alliteration of Hummeln and Hintern. A coarser version says Hummeln im Arsch; English has "ants in one's pants."
Equivalents in other languages
Spanish: ser culo de mal asiento Literally: To be bottom of bad seat
French: Être piqué de la tarentule Literally: To be bitten by the tarantula
English: ants in one's pants
More German idioms
- Das ist nicht das Gelbe vom Ei It's not ideal; not quite good enough.
- Alles in Butter Everything is fine and under control.
- Aus dem Häuschen sein To be beside yourself with excitement.
- Jemandem auf den Keks gehen To get on someone's nerves.
- Einen Kater haben To have a hangover.
- die Nase voll haben To be fed up or exhausted by something.
Explore another collection: False Friends
Words that look familiar in another language but mean something else entirely.
Keep exploring