sein Damaskus erleben
Meaning: To undergo a sudden, transformative spiritual or moral awakening.
Language: German
Literally: to experience one's Damascus
Category: Daily Life
Origin: Reference to Saint Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus, which became the archetype of sudden divine revelation and life-changing insight.
More idioms — Daily Life
- auf den Schlips treten — To offend or insult someone, to hurt their feelings or pride.
- Hinz und Kunz — Any ordinary person; everyone; the man in the street; used to refer to people indiscrimin…
- keine halben Sachen machen — To commit fully to something; to be thorough and complete rather than halfhearted or comp…
- die Zelte abbrechen — to move away or leave a place; to abandon one's position.
- erstunken und erlogen — entirely false or made up; a complete lie or fabrication.
- mit allem Drum und Dran — complete with all the accessories, extras, or associated details; entirely and comprehens…
More German idioms
- in den Wind sprechen — To speak in vain or to an audience that will not listen or act on one's words.
- um die Ecke denken — To think creatively or unconventionally, to solve problems by approaching them from unexp…
- auf keinen grünen Zweig kommen — To fail to achieve success or prosperity, to make no progress in life or a project.
- grün vor Neid — Consumed with jealousy or envious feeling.
- was das Zeug hält — with maximum intensity or speed; to the absolute limit of one's capacity.
- bei der Stange halten — to keep someone obedient, loyal, or in line through discipline or pressure.
From our tongue twisters
- Der Cottbuser Postkutscher putzt den Cottbuser Postkutschkasten. — A jaw-breaking compound-noun 'ts/tsch/sch' marathon — the German love of compound words w…
- Hinter Hermann Hannes Haus hängen hundert Hemden raus. — A relentless 'h' aspirate drill — every word opens with the same breathy attack.
- Fischers Fritz fischt frische Fische, frische Fische fischt Fischers Fritz. — The German 'f' / 'sch' staple.