GermanJemandem auf den Keks gehen
Meaning: To get on someone's nerves.
Literally: To go on someone's biscuit
Example: “Das Piepen des Kühlschranks geht mir auf den Keks.” — The beeping of the fridge is getting on my nerves.
English equivalent: To get on someone's nerves
Origin: One of a series of youth-slang phrases that replaced the older jemandem auf den Geist gehen (to get on someone's mind, to annoy them) with almost any noun: Senkel (laces), Nüsse (nuts), Wecker (alarm clock). Some read Keks (cookie) as slang for the head, as in einen weichen Keks haben (to be soft in the head), the head crumbling like a cookie under the strain, but this is not documented. It has been common since the later 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
French: Casser les pieds à quelqu'un Literally: To break someone's feet
Hindi: नाक में दम करना (naak mein dam karna) Literally: To make someone's breath come through their nose- French: Taper sur le système Literally: To run on the bean / to bang on the system
English: be a pain in the neck- English: get on someone's nerves
More German idioms
- Einen Kater haben To have a hangover.
- die Nase voll haben To be fed up or exhausted by something.
- Dampf ablassen To release pent-up emotion or frustration.
- Salz in die Wunde streuen To deliberately make someone's pain or humiliation worse.
- die Suppe versalzen To ruin a plan or situation through careless excess.
- vor den Kopf stoßen To offend or affront someone.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Schlauberger A know-it-all smartass who never misses a chance to show off their cleverness.
- Dickkopf A pig-headed, unyielding person — their skull is so thick no new idea can penetrate it.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.
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