IdiomDaily Life
German
Germanin die Quere kommen
Meaning: to interfere with someone, to get in the way or obstruct.
Literally: To come into the cross
Example: “Der Regen kam unseren Plänen in die Quere.” — The rain got under our feet and spoiled our plans.
English equivalent: To get under someone's feet
Equivalents in other languages
English: get under someone's feet
Origin: Quer means crosswise, anything that cuts across a straight path, and it is related to the old zwerch still heard in Zwerchfell (diaphragm). Coming in die Quere is crossing someone's path and getting in their way. Redensarten-Index notes that a Quertreiber was originally a boatman who let his vessel drift across the channel, into the path of others.
More German idioms
- zu Grabe tragen to bury or permanently give up on something such as a hope, plan, or wish.
- aus dem Handgelenk done with ease and without much effort or advance preparation; offhand.
- Staub aufwirbeln To cause trouble or create a dramatic disturbance.
- ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr A person criticizes another for the same fault they themselves possess.
- nah am Wasser gebaut Someone who cries easily or is prone to tears.
- feucht hinter den Ohren Young, inexperienced, or naive.
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