Gut’n Morg’n!

In today’s Lingo Bingo, I would like to take you to a special place in the German speaking world: Austria. I am not sure if you know that Austrians love going their own way. So guess what, they also like to distinguish itself from other German speaking countries; Germany in particular (I would like to drop a line or two on that issue*). Enjoy, leg’ di’ auf die faule Haut (lie on your lazy skin) and let’s go!

*German/Austria rivalry

You have to consider the fact that after WWII the situation between Austria and Germany was quite tense. Who was guilty for crimes like the genocide of Jews? Was Austria a victim or fully responsible for what had happened during that dark chapter of history? If you ask me, Austria and Germany are fully responsible for that crime, but that issue is not my point — today at least.

Here’s the thing: Language is a way of identification and important part of a country (nationalism, pride, …). Austria never wanted to be associated with Germany again, there are several reasons for that (the question of guilt, the attitude of working things up, …). As a result of that “identity crisis”, Austria tried to rescue its “Austrian-ness”. Part of that “Austrian-ness” was the diversity of dialects. So instead of “Sahne”, Austrians rather say “Schlagobers” (cream). To get a list of different Austrian/German words, have a look at ostarrichi.org. I am well aware, that this is not the only reason for the Germany/Austria Rival, but that might have contributed…
I do not want to trigger a discussion on the Nazi regime. Things are quite clear. Nazis are criminals and denying facts about the NS regime is criminal to me. I will not hesitate deleting any inappropriate comment!

Today’s difficulty will be to find English equivalents for Austrian sayings… Whenever you read *any idea?*, you’re very welcome to show off your skills by posting a suggestion (=comments)!

You Lazy Skin

auf die faule Haut legen (AT) — to lie on the lazy skin (lit. transl.) — to idle away someone’s time (EN equivalent)

Du liegst den ganzen Tag auf der faulen Haut — You idle away your time all day long.

eine faule Haut sein (AT) — to be a lazy skin (lit. transl.) — *any idea?* (EN equivalent)

Peter ist so eine faule Haut — Peter is such a *any idea?* (lazy skin)

faulenzen — to idle, to chill out, to laze (EN equivalent)

Heute habe ich den ganzen Tag nur gefaulenzt — Today I just chilled out all day.

stinkfaul sein [stinkfeuh: AT] — to be a lazy bone or to be bone-lazy (EN equivalent)

Sag, wie stinkfaul bist du eigentlich? — What kind of lazy bone are you actually?

Kisses And Hugs

abbusslen (AT) — abküssen (DE) — to smother someone with kisses; smother = ersticken (EN equivalent)

Ich mag “Person X” nicht. Die/der busselt einen immer so ab! — I do not like “Person X”. He/she always smothers me with kisses.

jmd mit offenen Armen empfangen (AT, DE) – to welcome someone with open arms, to embrace someone (EN equivalent)

Go Take Aschauer

(I couldn’t resist naming that section after my name: A shower/Aschauer)

Da kannst du dich brausen (AT) – In that respect you can take a shower (literally translated) — it means that you can forget that idea, it is unchangeable, you are powerless to change something — *any idea?* (EN equivalent)

Da kannst du dich brausen gehen! Ich werde dir nicht aus der Patsche helfen! — You *any idea?* ! I won’t bail you out!

Dude, we’re in a Patsche!

Before we examine the way of uttering problems, we have to understand that human beings have always been facing troubles, so there is no way we can list all ways of saying them. I am being so selfish and pick those I like. All mean pretty much mean the same, if an accurate translation is possible I’ll give the equivalent.

in der Patsche sein — to be in the paw (lit. transl.) — to be in the soup (EN equivalent — a Native speaking friend never heard of that…)

tief in der Patsche sitzen — to sit in the paw (lit. transl.)

Ich glaube, dass wir ziehmlich tief in der Patsche sitzen — We’re in the soup.

hilflos ausgeliefert sein — to be surrounded (lit. transl.) – to be at someone’s mercy (not nec. Österreichisch)

Wenn du jemanden zu dir einlädst, bist du hilflos ausgeliefert — If you invite someone over, you’re completely at someone’s mercy.

Da gibt’s keinen Weg hinaus, Freund. Wir sind ausgeliefert — There is no way out of this, buddy. We’re at someone’s mercy / We’re screwed / We’re in a pickle /…

English ways of saying “Huston, we have a problem”: to be screwed, to be fcuked, *any idea?*..

to be in a pickle: Dude, we’re in a pickle! (AT: Oida, wir sitzen tief in der Patsche)

jemandem aus der Patsche helfen — to help someone out of the paw (lit. transl.)– to bail someone out, to let someone off the hook, to help someone out (EN equivalent)

jemanden zu(r) Hilfe kommen — to come to somone’s recue

Wie ein Schloss Dog heulen

wie ein Schlosshund heulen (AT) – to cry like a castle dog/hound (lit. transl.) — to cry like a baby, to be in floods, to howl someone’s head off (EN equivalent)

Hör’ auf wie ein Schlosshund zu heulen. — Stop crying like a baby!

sich in einer Ecke vergreun — to hide in a corner (lit. transl.) — to curl up in a corner and cry (EN equivalent)

Extras

abbecken (AT) — sich zu Tode lachen (DE) — to laugh to death (lit. transl.) -- to crack up (EN equivalent)

angehaut sein [an-kaut] (AT) — to be nuts (EN, more US)

Here is my final idiom for today’s episode of Lingo Bingo. Here is along for the Lingo Bingo Archive (English vs Deutsch).

My absolute Favorite

Du versucht mir da ein Märchen zu erzählen — You are trying to tell me a fairy tale (lit. transl.) — Don’t piss down my back and tell me it was raining! (EN equivalent, vulgar)

Have a nice start into this wonderful week! By the way, I have another Austrian Special planned (that happens to be even more Austrian…). Make sure you check back later next week! Stay tuned and bye.