nur Bahnhof verstehen
Meaning: to understand nothing at all of what is being said.
Language: German
Literally: to understand only train station
Category: The Absurd
Origin: Obscure; possibly from the absurdity of hearing only the word 'station' from a whole conversation, or a play on selective understanding in a confusing public place.
More idioms — The Absurd
- alles im grünen Bereich sein — Everything is functioning well or is satisfactory.
- um die Ecke denken — To think creatively or unconventionally, to solve problems by approaching them from unexp…
- was das Zeug hält — with maximum intensity or speed; to the absolute limit of one's capacity.
- die Faxen dicke haben — To be fed up; to have had enough of someone's nonsense or misbehavior.
- eine Schraube locker haben — To be slightly eccentric or mentally unbalanced.
- gehüpft wie gesprungen — It makes no difference; the distinction between two things is negligible.
More German idioms
- von einem Tag auf den anderen — very quickly, suddenly, or overnight.
- 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.
- außer Rand und Band geraten — To lose control and behave wildly or unruly.
- nah am Wasser gebaut — Someone who cries easily or is prone to tears.
- feucht hinter den Ohren — Young, inexperienced, or naive.
From our proverbs
- Life is full of hazards, which experience neither bought nor taught will always enable us to foresee. — Unforeseen dangers inevitably confront us despite accumulated wisdom and formal education.
- Life is half spent before we know what it is. — We waste years discovering our genuine desires and values, leaving limited time to pursue…
- Life lies not in living, but in liking. — Contentment and satisfaction matter more than mere existence or the accumulation of exper…