What phraseological expressions in German express feelings

In German, numerous phraseological expressions (idioms) are used to express feelings and emotions. Some idioms often refer to body parts or physical states to convey emotional meanings. For example, the heart (“Herz”) is a common metaphorical center for feelings such as love, sadness, or desire in German idioms. Phrases involving the heart can express complex emotional states like longing, passion, and sorrow. Other idioms utilize parts like eyes, nose, or stomach to express emotions like surprise, disgust, or fear.

Additionally, some idiomatic expressions involving plants or animals metaphorically express various emotional states. For instance, “ins Gras beißen” (literally “to bite the grass”) is a vivid idiom meaning “to die,” often conveying emotional finality.

Overall, German phraseological expressions richly use bodily metaphors and natural imagery to communicate emotional nuances and attitudes, spanning positive feelings like joy and love to negative ones such as sadness and anger. These idioms play an important role in everyday language to express feelings indirectly yet vividly. ^{1, 3, 11, 14, 19}

Some specific examples of German idioms expressing feelings include:

• “jemandem das Herz brechen” (to break someone’s heart) — expressing deep emotional pain or sadness.
• “Herz über Kopf” (heart over head) — indicating acting emotionally rather than rationally.
• “die Nase voll haben” (to have one’s nose full) — expressing annoyance or frustration.
• “sich etwas zu Herzen nehmen” (to take something to heart) — expressing emotional sensitivity or concern.
• “Schmetterlinge im Bauch haben” (to have butterflies in the stomach) — describing the feeling of nervous excitement or love.

These idiomatic expressions vividly capture the emotional experience in German and are commonly used in both spoken and written language to express feelings effectively. ^{11, 19}

References

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