IdiomAnimals
German
Germanjemanden zur Schnecke machen
Meaning: To scold or rebuke someone harshly; to give someone a severe dressing-down.
Literally: To make someone into a snail
Example: “Der Küchenchef machte den Lehrling zur Schnecke.” — The head chef read the apprentice the riot act.
English equivalent: To read the riot act
Equivalents in other languages
English: To read the riot act
Icelandic: Að taka einhvern á beinið Literally: To take someone onto the bone
French: Passer un savon Literally: To pass a soap
Origin: A snail attacked pulls back into its shell, and someone zur Schnecke gemacht has been scolded until they shrink back the same way. German Wiktionary also mentions a soldiers' explanation, that harsh drill left a recruit able only to crawl like a snail. Neither is confirmed.
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