streichholzschaechtelchen:

Obviously German has a shit-ton of words and expressions that English doesn’t because of its affinity for compounding. So I collected my faves!

das Luftschloss lit. sky castle an unrealistic dream

die Eselsbrücke lit. donkey bridge a mnemonic device

der Erbsenzähler lit. pea counter a control freak, someone who needs to count peas

der Pantoffelheld lit. slipper hero someone who is “whipped” or can’t stand up to their significant other

der Kummerspeck lit. worry bacon the weight you put on when you overeat due to worry or stress

der Treppenwitz lit. stairs joke the clever joke you only think of after you’ve left the relevant situation and have already started down the stairs

der Dreikäsehoch lit. three cheese high someone who is very short, i.e. as tall as three cheeses stacked on top of one another

der/das Kuddelmuddel lit. mishmash? chaos or mess

der Weltschmerz lit. world pain the feeling that comes from living in a world that isn’t perfect

verschlimmbessern lit. to make worse better to make something worse while trying to make it better

das Arschgeweih lit. ass antlers tramp stamp

die Arschgeige lit. ass violin someone who can’t do anything right

die Waldeinsamkeit lit. forest isolation the feeling you get when you are alone in the woods, truly communing with nature