10 November 2012: Das ist mir Wurst!

10 Nov: Das ist mir Wurst! from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Das ist mir Wurst!

Closest English Translation: I don’t care, whatever, I don’t give a flying fuck

Literal Translation: That is to me a sausage!

9 November 2012: Jemanden auf die Schippe nehmen

0911 Jemanden in die Schrippe from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Jemanden auf die Schippe nehmen

Closest English Translation: to make a fool out of someone

Literal Translation: to take someone in the shovel

8 November 2012: In rauen Mengen

8 Nov: In rauen Mengen from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: In rauen Mengen

Closest English Translation: in heaps, in copious amounts

Literal Translation: in raw amounts

7 November 2012: Auf einen Sprung vorbei kommen

7 Nov: Auf einen Sprung vorbei kommen from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Auf einen Sprung vorbei kommen

Closest English Translation: To stop by, to swing by

Direct English Translation: To come by on a jump

Thanks Kia Corthron once again for participating!

6 November 2012: Vor der Rolle sein

6 Nov: vor der Rolle sein from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Vor der Rolle sein

Closest English Translation: to have lost it

Literal Translation: To be before the cylinder

Origin: This expression comes from Motorbike sports, more specifically motor-paced racing, in which the motorist covers up in high speed long distance up to 100 km in the wind-shadow of another motorbike. The Motorist tries to be as close as possible to the other’s cylinder in order to profit from the wind shadow. However if the distance is too great, the motorist is then, “vor der Rolle” and too confused or not concentrated enough.

5 November 2012: Etwas ergattern

5 Nov: Etwas ergattern from kate hers on Vimeo.

Word or Expression: Etwas ergattern

Closest English Translation: to get ahold of something, to snatch something, be in the right place at the right time

Literal Translation: to “re”-gate (in the sense that the prefix er can sometimes be translated as either “dead” or the English “re.”

This expression goes back to the time when beggars and tramps used to beg at the gate of a homestead, not allowed to come inside. When a beggar would receive Alms at the gate, he or she would “get something,” or “etwas ergattert.”

Thanks Sojung Kwon and Matt Wray!

4 November 2012: Meine Name ist Hase

04 Nov: Meine Name ist Hase from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Meine Name ist Hase

Closest English Translation: I am not involved, I had nothing to do with it, I am innocent

Literal Translation: My name is hare

From german.about.com

Use it when: You want to state that you are not guilty of something or you have no information to give about a certain situation.

History: This expression has nothing to do with hares, bunnies or any other animal. It has to do with a certain man named Victor von Hase. Hase was a law student in Heidelberg in the 19th century. He got into trouble with the law when he helped his friend flee to France after he shot another student in a duel. When Hase was asked in court what his involvement was, he declared: “Mein Name ist Hase; ich verneine die Generalfragen; ich weiß von nichts.” From that phrase came the expression that is still in use today.

Many thanks: Kia Corthron, Adrienne Elisha, Scott Stark, and Carman Moore.

3 November 2012: Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden

3 Nov: Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Jemandem einen Bären aufbinden

Closest English Translation: to pull the wool over someone’s eyes, to pull someone’s leg

Direct English Translation: To tie a bear on someone

Thanks Cheryl Klein and Ted Hearne!

2 November 2012: Brot und Salz, Gott erhalt’s

2 Nov: Brot und Salz, Gott erhalt’s from kate hers on Vimeo.

Learning Category: Proverb

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: Brot und Salz, Gott erhalt’s

Closest English Translation: daily bread

Direct English Translation: Bread and salt, God sustains

1 November 2012: Self-imposed punishment #5 Humiliation

1 Nov: Punishment from kate hers on Vimeo.

Location: Peterborough, NH

Word or Expression: die Beschämung

Closest English Translation: Humiliation

Oh man. I am very very sick. Because of Hurricane Sandy we had a power outtage and I slept in the cold for a few days.