IdiomNature
German
Germanüber den Jordan gehen
Meaning: To die.
Literally: To go over the Jordan
Example: “Der alte Traktor ist im Frühjahr über den Jordan gegangen.” — The old tractor kicked the bucket in the spring.
English equivalent: To kick the bucket
Other ways to say this
Finnish: Heittää lusikka nurkkaan Literally: To throw the spoon in the corner- German: Den Löffel abgeben Literally: To hand over the spoon
Russian: отбросить копыта (otbrosit' kopyta) Literally: To throw off hooves- Russian: сыграть в ящик (sygrat' v yashchik) Literally: To play in a box
English: kick the bucket
French: Passer l'arme à gauche Literally: To pass the weapon to the left
Origin: A biblical reference: the Jordan River represents the boundary between the earthly world and the promised afterlife, crossing it means passing from life to death.
More German idioms
- kein unbeschriebenes Blatt sein To be a person whose background, reputation, or history is already known.
- einen Vogel zeigen To tap one's forehead at someone, a rude gesture meaning "you're crazy."
- die Hände in den Schoß legen To be idle or inactive; to do nothing while waiting or while problems accumulate.
- etwas auf seine Kappe nehmen To accept blame or responsibility for something.
- vom Hundertsten ins Tausendste kommen To jump chaotically from one topic or thought to another without finishing any of them.
- jemanden zur Schnecke machen To scold or rebuke someone harshly; to give someone a severe dressing-down.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt You have to take a risk to gain anything.
- Jung gewohnt, alt getan Habits formed in youth stay with you into old age.
- Gottes Mühlen mahlen langsam, aber sicher Wrongdoing is punished in the end, even if justice takes its time.
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