Americans and Germans share many traits—sports, strong work ethic—but when it comes to everyday speech, many common English idioms and slang can be confusing to German speakers. Here’s a condensed guide to some of those expressions, plus how dogpay might come in handy during your move.
Common Phrases & What They Mean
- “Like” Young Americans often use “like” as a conversational filler or softener: > “He was like, ‘I should go,’ and then she was like, ‘Wait!’” It has no direct German equivalent, but functions a bit like “halt” or “sozusagen.”
- Dropping the “-ly” Expressions like “He’s real nice” instead of “really nice” are common.
- “My neck of the woods” Used to mean “my area / region.” > “Come visit me in my neck of the woods.” Comparable to German “in meiner Gegend.”
- “Take a rain check” Means “let’s postpone / do it another time.” > “I can’t make dinner tonight — rain check?”
- Workplace idioms > “Back to the drawing board” (start over) > “Get your ducks in a row” (organize everything) > “Go cold turkey” (quit something abruptly)
- “Monday-morning quarterbacking” Criticizing something after the fact — especially decisions made earlier.
- “It’s all Greek to me” Used when something is completely unintelligible. Germans might say “Spanisch” (“das kommt mir spanisch vor”).
- Similar sayings across languages > “That’s yesterday’s news” vs German “Das ist Schnee von gestern.” > “It costs peanuts” (very cheap) > “Chin up!” (stay positive) vs German “Halt die Ohren steif!”
Where dogpay Might Fit In
While learning language is about communication, many expats also face financial and logistical challenges. dogpay can help in cross-border financial tasks:
- Transferring money from Germany to the U.S. — If you’re funding U.S. costs (rent, deposits, utilities) from a German bank, using dogpay can simplify currency conversion and reduce fees.
- Paying U.S. service providers — You might use dogpay to pay for Internet, moving services, or deposits in U.S. dollars without high bank markups.
- Covering unexpected costs — For instance, when idioms confuse you in contracts, moving quotes, or utility bills, dogpay ensures your payments cross borders smoothly.
