sich die Hörner abstoßen
Meaning: To shed youthful recklessness and settle into maturity.
Language: German
Literally: to knock off one's horns
Category: Animals
Origin: Young animals shed or wear down their horns through aggressive play and fighting; the image captures the roughness of youth gradually worn away.
More idioms — Animals
- ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr — A person criticizes another for the same fault they themselves possess.
- bei der Stange halten — to keep someone obedient, loyal, or in line through discipline or pressure.
- keine zehn Pferde — nothing could force or move one; obstinate refusal or immovable determination.
- an die Kandare nehmen — To restrain, control, or impose discipline on someone.
- einen Vogel zeigen — To gesture dismissively or insultingly, usually by mimicking a cuckoo or making a mocking…
- jemanden zur Schnecke machen — To scold or rebuke someone harshly; to give someone a severe dressing-down.
More German idioms
- auf dem Damm — In good health and spirits, recovered from illness or hardship.
- aus dem Off — to speak or act without drawing attention to oneself, anonymously or from the background.
- den Geist aufgeben — to die, or to cease functioning.
- um ein Haar — by the narrowest possible margin; almost not.
- etwas auf die lange Bank schieben — to postpone or delay something indefinitely.
- in die Quere kommen — to interfere with someone, to get in the way or obstruct.
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