Linguistic Fingerprints Part 6

Puzzling idioms: I have to admit the first time I ever heard the idiom “Jemandem den Kopf waschen” I was puzzled.

For me, “having your head washed” conjures up an image of sitting at the hairdresser’s, a gentle head massage while getting my hair washed… But in German this turn of phrase is used to “give someone a telling off”.

It really signifies a thorough admonishment, and is probably best translated by saying “I gave him a piece of my mind”…

‍

Exploring such idioms exposes the depths of cultural communication. Are you up for more?

‍