IdiomThe Absurd
German
Germanwas das Zeug hält
Meaning: with maximum intensity or speed; to the absolute limit of one's capacity.
Literally: What the stuff holds
Example: “Sie radelte, was das Zeug hält, um den Zug zu erreichen.” — She cycled flat out to catch the train.
English equivalent: Flat out
Equivalents in other languages
French: Tout schuss Literally: All shot
English: flat out
Origin: The Zeug is the harness of a draft horse, and the phrase first meant pulling as hard as the harness would hold before it broke; an older variant was was Leder und Zeug hält (as much as the leather and harness will hold). It is recorded from the second half of the 18th century, with a literary example from Johann Carl Wezel in 1780, and now means going all out.
More German idioms
- die Zelte abbrechen to move away or leave a place; to abandon one's position.
- 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.
- mundtot machen to silence or suppress someone; to rob them of the ability or right to speak.
- wie ein Blinder von der Farbe reden to discuss or explain something one has no direct experience or understanding of; to spea…
- erstunken und erlogen entirely false or made up; a complete lie or fabrication.
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