6 German everyday idioms involving clothing
Popular German idioms often include references to clothing, from hats on your head to shoes on your feet. Velvet gloves and exploding collars also make for interesting images.
Eine weisse Weste haben
A vest is a sleeveless clothing item that, according to some sources, came to Germany from France in the late 17th century. Telling someone you have a spotless white or clean vest means your conscience is clear, you are not to blame. Since there are no sleeves, you can't have a trick up your sleeve, either!
Kleider machen Leute
Fine feathers make fine birds is the equivalent of the German proverb "clothes make the man" — or woman, of course. People tend to judge others by their appearance, so the saying is also used as a reminder, for instance, when parents want to help their child get ready for a job interview. On the other hand, you should never judge a book by its cover!
Aus dem Ärmel schütteln
Literally, the idiom means to "shake something out of your sleeve," which describes an easy task. In English, having something up your sleeve, however, means you have a secret plan or idea. Having an ace up your sleeve works as a German idiom, too: a secret advantage or skill.
Jacke wie Hose
The odd German idiom "It's coat or pants to me" means I don't care one way ot another. It appears to go back hundreds of years, to a period when it became fashionable in the 17th century to design and create pants and coats from the same material.
Mir platzt der Kragen
Time to duck and get out of the way if someone yells "Mir platzt gleich der Kragen" (literally, my collar is about to burst), meaning, I've had it, I've had enough. A shirt collar can feel strangling when a person's face and neck get hot in anger.
Mit Samthandschuhen anfassen
Some people expect to be treated with kid gloves! In German, the same idiom involves the use of velvet gloves, however, which of course are just as soft. A colorful phrase that has the same meaning involves treating people "like a raw egg."