Home › Idioms

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.

← Back to Idioms

Loading the full interactive collection…