Let’s have some fun with this weird German language!
In this series of posts, I’ll show you how to make your German-speaking colleagues laugh, with ONE simple sentence.
Auf dem Teppich bleiben
(On the carpet stay)
When you stand on a carpet (auf einem Teppich), you stand firmly and well grounded, right?!
Now imagine you start getting angry and frustrated for whatever reason (aus irgendeinem Grund).
People will look at you (auf dich) and think that you’re not so well grounded anymore (nicht mehr).
So to get you out of your current anger (Ärger), they might say to you in German:
- Bleib auf dem Teppich!
meaning
- Keep your feet on the ground!
- Don’t get carried away!
Got it?!
So here’s your action step:
Imagine you’re in the middle of a team-meeting (inmitten einer Teambesprechung).
Suddenly (plötzlich) your German-speaking colleague Gertrude stands up and starts shouting and complaining in front of you about the team, the company and how bad everything is (und wie schlecht alles ist).
Interrupt her immediately and say to her (und sag ihr):
- Jetzt bleib mal auf dem Teppich, ok?! (Come on, keep your feet on the ground!)
And this is what it sounds like: