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Learn expressions to describe focusing on something
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INTRODUCTION |
Eric: Expressions to Describe Focusing on Something |
Eric: Hi everyone, and welcome back to GermanPod101.com. I'm Eric. |
Jennifer: And I'm Jennifer! |
Eric: This is Must-Know German Slang Words and Phrases, Season 1, Lesson 16. In this lesson you'll learn how to say that you’re staying focused on something. |
Eric: German people often like to stay focused on one topic, and they’ll use these phrases to make the subject clear. |
SLANG EXPRESSIONS |
Eric: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are: |
Jennifer: Am Ball bleiben. |
Jennifer: Auf Biegen und Brechen. |
Jennifer: Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. |
Jennifer: Mit Haut und Haaren. |
Eric: Jennifer, what's our first expression? |
Jennifer: Am Ball bleiben. |
Eric: This literally means "to stay on the ball." It’s used in the same way as the English expression. |
Jennifer: [SLOW] Am Ball bleiben. [NORMAL] Am Ball bleiben. |
Eric: Listeners, please repeat. |
Jennifer: Am Ball bleiben. |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Eric: Use this slang expression when you want to mention that you’re staying focused on something. Now let's hear an example sentence. |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wenn man etwas erreichen möchte, ist es wichtig immer am Ball zu bleiben. [SLOW] Wenn man etwas erreichen möchte, ist es wichtig immer am Ball zu bleiben. |
Eric: "If you want to achieve something, it is very important to stay on the ball. " |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wenn man etwas erreichen möchte, ist es wichtig immer am Ball zu bleiben. |
Eric: Okay, what's the next expression? |
Jennifer: Auf Biegen und Brechen. |
Eric: Which literally means "by hook or by crook." When it's used as a slang expression, it means "by any means necessary." |
Jennifer: [SLOW] Auf Biegen und Brechen. [NORMAL] Auf Biegen und Brechen. |
Eric: Listeners, please repeat. |
Jennifer: Auf Biegen und Brechen. |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Eric: Use this slang expression when all possible options should be taken to accomplish a goal. Let's hear it used in a sentence. |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Ich muss das Projekt auf Biegen und Brechen zu Ende bringen. [SLOW] Ich muss das Projekt auf Biegen und Brechen zu Ende bringen. |
Eric: "I have to finish the project by any means possible." |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Ich muss das Projekt auf Biegen und Brechen zu Ende bringen. |
Eric: Okay, what's our next expression? |
Jennifer: Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. |
Eric: Literally, this means "to bring something to the person in front." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "to bring something up to scratch." |
Jennifer: [SLOW] Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. [NORMAL] Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. |
Eric: Listeners, please repeat. |
Jennifer: Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Eric: Use this slang expression when you want to fix something up, put it back into good condition, bring it up to the standard. Now let's hear an example sentence. |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Bevor ich das Handy verkaufe, muss ich es auf Vordermann bringen. [SLOW] Bevor ich das Handy verkaufe, muss ich es auf Vordermann bringen. |
Eric: "Before I will sell my phone, I have to bring it up to scratch." |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Bevor ich das Handy verkaufe, muss ich es auf Vordermann bringen. |
Eric: Okay, what's the last expression? |
Jennifer: Mit Haut und Haaren. |
Eric: Literally meaning "with skin and hair." As a slang expression, this means "put your heart and soul into something." |
Jennifer: [SLOW] Mit Haut und Haaren. [NORMAL] Mit Haut und Haaren. |
Eric: Listeners, please repeat. |
Jennifer: Mit Haut und Haaren. |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Eric: Use this slang expression when you want to express that you’re putting forward all your efforts towards something. Let's hear an example sentence. |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Ich bin mit Haut und Haaren dabei. [SLOW] Ich bin mit Haut und Haaren dabei. |
Eric: "I'm giving it my all." |
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Ich bin mit Haut und Haaren dabei. |
QUIZ |
Eric: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I’ll describe four situations, and you choose the right expression to use. Are you ready? |
Eric: You’re using all possible means to accomplish a goal. Which slang do you use? |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Jennifer: Auf Biegen und Brechen. |
Eric: "by any means necessary" |
Eric: You want to mention that you’re staying focused on something. Which slang do you use? |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Jennifer: Am Ball bleiben. |
Eric: "to stay on the ball" |
Eric: You want to express that you’re putting all your efforts towards something. Which slang do you use? |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Jennifer: Mit Haut und Haaren. |
Eric: "put your heart and soul into something" |
Eric: You want to fix something up, and repair it so that it’s back in good condition. Which slang do you use? |
[pause - 5 sec.] |
Jennifer: Etwas auf Vordermann bringen. |
Eric: "to bring something up to scratch" |
Outro |
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Eric: There you have it; you have mastered four German slang expressions! We have more vocab lists available at GermanPod101.com, so be sure to check them out. Thanks everyone, and see you next time! |
Jennifer: Bis zum nächsten Mal! |
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