Kummerspeck
I am sure we have all had our fair share of painful breakups. More often than not, the grief is so strong that it moves from the soul into the body and becomes apparent in the form of drastic weight changes.
Muffensausen
Imagine you have a very promising date—but instead of being full of anticipation, you feel strangely stressed, almost paralyzed. That’s the kind of anxiety that Germans call “Muffensausen”
Muskelkater
Nearly 12 million Germans belong to a fitness club. Many of them demonstrate an iron German discipline, never leaving the gym until they have completed their third set of selfies.
Eisprung
Non-native-speaking women in Germany should not be surprised when they are asked questions like “when did you have your last egg jump” at the gynecologist.
Mitesser
The term “Mitesser” first appeared in a dictionary at the end of the 17th century. The expression refers to the widespread belief at the time that diseases were mainly due to parasites.
Drehwurm
Drehwurm may sound like one of these jolly modern neologisms. But, in fact, the word has a serious and somewhat sinister background. There is actually a species that is popularly called Drehwurm – and it’s not a nice one…
Stallgeruch
The term is rooted in agricultural life, where animals from the same stable carry a distinctive odor. Over time, this concept took on a figurative meaning.
Bäuerchen
In Germany, there is only one situation in which there is applause for a burp: when a mother pats her baby on the back—and he properly does his “Bäuerchen”.
Pariser
Clichés are very unfairly distributed. While the world sees us Germans as rather humourless organizational talents, the fine sense for physical pleasures is mainly attributed to the French.
Bauchpinseln
A German proverb says: “Not complaining is enough praise.” We are truly not the masters of lavishing compliments. However, the concept of using feigned compliments as a weapon to win someone’s favor isn’t beyond a German’s reach.