vor den Kopf stoßen
Meaning: To offend or affront someone.
Language: German
Literally: to push before the head
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: The image is of a sudden, jarring collision that catches someone off guard and damages their dignity.
More idioms — Body & Senses
- den Geist aufgeben — to die, or to cease functioning.
- um ein Haar — by the narrowest possible margin; almost not.
- aus dem Handgelenk — done with ease and without much effort or advance preparation; offhand.
- feucht hinter den Ohren — Young, inexperienced, or naive.
- grün vor Neid — Consumed with jealousy or envious feeling.
- mundtot machen — to silence or suppress someone; to rob them of the ability or right to speak.
More German idioms
- sich die Hörner abstoßen — To shed youthful recklessness and settle into maturity.
- 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.
- 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.
- zu Grabe tragen — to bury or permanently give up on something such as a hope, plan, or wish.
Loading the full interactive collection…