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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Eric: Expressions to Describe a Negative Person
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 9. In this lesson you'll learn expressions to describe a negative person. Be sure not to use these in front of the person you’re describing!
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
Eric: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are:
Jennifer: Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben
Jennifer: Große Klappe, nichts dahinter.
Jennifer: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Jennifer: Eine Schraube locker haben.
Eric: Jennifer, what's our first expression?
Jennifer: Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben
Eric: This literally means "to have a plank in front of someone's head." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "to be a blockhead."
Jennifer: [SLOW] Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben [NORMAL] Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben
Eric: Listeners, please repeat.
Jennifer: Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben
[pause - 5 sec.]
Eric: Use this slang expression when you see someone acting stupidly or doing something idiotic. Now let's hear an example sentence.
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wieso kommst du nicht auf die Lösung? Hast du ein Brett vor dem Kopf? [SLOW] Wieso kommst du nicht auf die Lösung? Hast du ein Brett vor dem Kopf?
Eric: "Why don't you know the solution? Are you a blockhead?"
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wieso kommst du nicht auf die Lösung? Hast du ein Brett vor dem Kopf?
Eric: Okay, what's the next expression?
Jennifer: Große Klappe, nichts dahinter.
Eric: Literally meaning "large flap, nothing behind it." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "someone is all talk and no action."
Jennifer: [SLOW] Große Klappe, nichts dahinter. [NORMAL] Große Klappe, nichts dahinter.
Eric: Listeners, please repeat.
Jennifer: Große Klappe, nichts dahinter.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Eric: Use this slang expression when someone is bragging a lot but can’t prove any of it. Be careful when you use this expression as some people might get offended by it. Now let's hear an example sentence.
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Mein Chef hat eine große Klappe und nichts dahinter. [SLOW] Mein Chef hat eine große Klappe und nichts dahinter.
Eric: "My boss talks a lot but there is nothing behind it. "
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Mein Chef hat eine große Klappe und nichts dahinter.
Eric: Okay, what's our next expression?
Jennifer: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Eric: This literally means "to not have all of your cups in the cabinet." But when it's used as a slang expression, it means "to lose your marbles."
Jennifer: [SLOW] Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben [NORMAL] Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Eric: Listeners, please repeat.
Jennifer: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
[pause - 5 sec.]
Eric: Use this slang expression when you think that another person might be a little bit confused. Let's hear it in a sentence.
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wer auf erneuerbare Energien eindrischt, hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank [SLOW] Wer auf erneuerbare Energien eindrischt, hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank
Eric: "If someone complains about renewable energies, they have lost their marbles."
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Wer auf erneuerbare Energien eindrischt, hat nicht alle Tassen im Schrank
Eric: Okay, what's the last expression?
Jennifer: Eine Schraube locker haben.
Eric: Literally, this means "to have a screw loose."
Jennifer: [SLOW] Eine Schraube locker haben. [NORMAL] Eine Schraube locker haben.
Eric: Listeners, please repeat.
Jennifer: Eine Schraube locker haben.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Eric: Use this slang expression when you think that somebody’s mentally unstable or eccentric. Please refrain from using it in public, since it can be very impolite. Now let's hear an example sentence.
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Herr Meier hat manchmal eine Schraube locker. [SLOW] Herr Meier hat manchmal eine Schraube locker.
Eric: "Mr. Meier sometimes has a screw loose."
Jennifer: [NORMAL] Herr Meier hat manchmal eine Schraube locker.
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 meet someone who brags a lot but can’t prove any of it. Which slang do you use?
[pause - 5 sec.]
Jennifer: Große Klappe, nichts dahinter.
Eric: "someone is all talk and no action"
Eric: You see someone acting stupid or doing something idiotic. Which slang do you use?
[pause - 5 sec.]
Jennifer: Ein Brett vor dem Kopf haben.
Eric: "to be a blockhead"
Eric: You think somebody is mentally unstable or eccentric. Which slang do you use?
[pause - 5 sec.]
Jennifer: Eine Schraube locker haben.
Eric: "to have a screw loose"
Eric: You think that another person might be a bit confused. Which slang do you use?
[pause - 5 sec.]
Jennifer: Nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben
Eric: "to lose your marbles"

Outro
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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