Mein Name Ist Hase - Ich wei Bescheid - German Idioms

Mein Name Ist Hase - Ich wei Bescheid - German Idioms Like actually every language, the German language has a variety of expressions that are not really easy to understand as their literal translation usually doesnt make any sense. Those are best learned in an appropriate context. I will present a few interesting German idioms to you and add a literal translation as well as a similar English expression below it and if available some etymological information. Auf gehts: Mein Name ist Hase, ich wei von nichts. Lit.:   My name is hare, I know of nothing.  Fig.: I don’t know about anythingWhere does this come from?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: â€Å"Mein Name ist Hase; ich verneine die Generalfragen; ich weiß von nichts.† (My name is Hase; I negate the general questions; I know of nothing) From that phrase came the expression that is still in use today.Funny FactThere is a popular song from the1970s by Chris Roberts with the same title that you might enjoy: Mein Name ist Hase. Viele Hunde sind des Hasen Tod Many dogs are of-the hare deathMany hounds soon catch the hare.   There is not much one person can do against many. Sehen wie der Hase luft See how the hare runs.See how the wind blows Da liegt der Hase im Pfeffer There lies the hare in-the pepper.That’s the fly in the ointment. (A small annoyance that spoils the whole thing.) Ein alter Hase An old hare.An old-timer / old-stager Wie ein Kaninchen vor der Schlange stehen Like a rabbit in-fron-of the snake stand.A deer caught in the headlights Das Ei des Kolumbus The egg of-theL Columbus.An easy solution to a complex problem Man muss sie wie ein rohes Ei behandeln One has-to handle her like a raw egg.To handle someone with kid gloves. Er sieht aus, wie aus dem Ei gepellt He looks as if (he was) pealed out of the egg.When somebody looks well put-gether. Der ist ein richtiger Hasenfu Hes a real hare-foot.He’s chicken. Der ist ein Angsthase Hes a fear-hare.He’s chicken Er ist ein Eierkopf He’s an egghead. (Hes a thinker but in a negative way) Where does this come from?This expression comes from the prejudice that scientists very often have a (semi) bald head which then reminds us of an egg. EDITED: 15th of June 2015 by Michael Schmitz