How would you explain the German phrase: “Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof” to an English speaker?

Literally translated, it means: “Life isn’t a pony farm”.

But you’d have to explain more.

Imagine living on a picturesque farm with fresh air, adorable ponies, and the sun shining all day—it sounds like a dream, right? 

But this phrase tells us that life isn’t always as easy and carefree as spending time with those ponies. Instead, it’s filled with challenges, stress, and tough moments.

In English, we have similar sayings that remind us that life has its share of difficulties:

• Life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows.
• Life is full of ups and downs.
• Life’s not a bed of roses.
• Life is no picnic.
• Life is a rollercoaster.

But here’s the thing: even though life can be tough, it’s also full of exciting opportunities and adventures.

So let’s embrace the challenges and do our best to enjoy the journey.

Now it’s your turn! Do you have any more funny sayings you’d like explained? I’m eager to hear them!

Gestern war wieder Englischtraining mit Christine. Franz war endlich aus London zurück und hatte viel zu berichten.

In der Stunde erzählte ich Christine und Franz von meinem Treffen mit Freundin Gisela, die inzwischen in Slough wohnt. Gisela arbeitet für die Lufthansa. Ich dachte immer, sie wäre eine “Stewardess“, aber inzwischen nennt sie sich “Flight Attendant“.

Christine erklärte uns, dass die englische Sprache zunehmend nach geschlechtsneutralen Alternativen sucht. So sagt man heute nicht mehr “Policeman” oder “Policewoman”, sondern “Police Officer“. Anstelle von “Fireman” verwendet man inzwischen “Firefighter“. Und anstatt “Chairman” sagt man “Chairperson“.

Man muss wohl mit der Zeit gehen, oder?

Um politisch korrekt zu sein, sollte ich Gisela nicht fragen, ob sie einen Freund hat, sondern ob sie sich gerade mit jemandem trifft. Auf Englisch wäre das dann: “Are you seeing or dating anyone at the moment, Gisela?” (Ich bin ja gar nicht neugierig!)

Gar nicht so einfach, immer politisch korrekt zu sein, oder? Ich muss jetzt echt aufpassen, was ich sage.

Ob Franz das alles verstanden hat, weiß ich nicht. Ich glaube, ihm ist das nicht so wichtig. Mir schon.

Ich werde jetzt ein bisschen über “Political Correctness” lesen. Es kann doch nicht schaden, oder?

Bis nächste Woche,

Deine Greta

Isn’t it strange how a phrase from our childhood can stay hidden for years, only to pop out of our mouths when we least expect it?

It happened when I was out for a before-breakfast walk with my husband.

We were chatting away in German (our usual language), when my husband said something that I didn’t believe (I just can’t for the life of me even remember what it was). 

Without thinking, I blurted out in English, “Cross your heart and hope to die!”

You should have seen the look on my husband’s face. He had never heard me say anything like that before. 

So I had to explain the whole childhood ritual behind the phrase. 

You see, when we were children, we would say that phrase to make someone promise they were telling the truth. It was like a super serious promise, or else they’d be in big trouble with… well, let’s just say someone important.  And we’d even make an “X” on our hearts with our fingers while saying it.

Talk about a funny bilingual moment, right?  

Has anything similar happened to you? Do let me know.

The Margaret Effect

So, why did I become a bilingual private secretary? Blame it on Margaret! My best friend decided to enrol in a course in Maidenhead, England. And being the loyal (and slightly lost) friend I was, I thought, “Why not?”

Just before changing plans, I had been offered a place at a well-known teachers’ training college in London. But I wasn’t thrilled about it. The college in my hometown didn’t seem too keen on having me, so I had to find something else. And fast!

Bilingual Bonanza

It was a two-year course. I learnt all sorts of useful stuff:

• Shorthand (that secret writing for grown-ups)
• Lightning-fast typing
• Secretarial skills
• Even a bit of law and economics

And the best part? Languages. Yes! German quickly became my absolute favourite.

After my first year, I spent six whole weeks working for Daimler Benz in Stuttgart, Germany. The work was about as exciting as watching paint dry. But Germany? I was completely smitten. I knew it was where I wanted to be.

The Corporate Carousel

A year later, I was working in the export department of a famous juice company. And six months later, I switched companies and stepped up to become the Tax Director’s assistant in the music business. The perks? Fantastic. My office view? Breathtaking—overlooking the beautiful Außenalster lake in Hamburg.

But wait a second. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. The work itself wasn’t exactly mind-blowing.

Sure, my boss loved having an English assistant—it was probably pretty cool back then. And me? I was the youngest assistant around—and bored.

Soon, I moved within the company to work with the Head of Personnel and Corporate Organisation. The boss? Great. The work? Well, let’s just say it wasn’t exactly setting my world on fire.

The Doubt Creeps In

That’s when the doubts started creeping in. What was I learning? Was my work making a difference? Was it pushing me to be my best? Was it letting me use my creativity?

BAM! The Calling

Decades later, BAM! It hit me—my true calling. And guess what? That’s what I’m still doing right now. Running my own English language training business.

You see, sometimes it takes a long and winding road to discover what you really love to do. And work that finally aligns with your core values.

Many years ago, a client wanted me to teach him some English idioms before his business trip to the United States.

I shared two of my favourites:

• “Not every Tom, Dick or Harry*”—This means not everyone.
  For example, you could say: “My new programme isn’t for every Tom, Dick or Harry; it takes a lot of effort.“
  
• “And Bob’s your uncle!*” —This means “there you go!” or “there you have it”.
  For example, you could say: “Having trouble opening a jar? No problem! Grip the lid with a cloth, twist it to the left (counter-clockwise), and Bob’s your uncle—the jar is open!”

Perhaps you can imagine … my client came back unhappy. No one understood his wonderful British phrases!

(What I didn’t think about at the time … Americans might not understand a lot of our British expressions.)

Every language has some expressions that don’t translate well.  British English has a lot of these!

So next time you want to impress someone with a new expression, be careful! It might not be understood.

My tip: Clear and simple language is always best. Especially in business!

Has anything similar happened to you?

_________

* nicht jeder x-Beliebige
* schwuppdiwupp, … und schon haben wir’s!

Ever walk your dog on a Sunday morning in Germany and feel like you’ve wandered onto a deserted movie set? No zombies, just an unexpected hush.

Unlike some places, Sundays in Germany are all about peace and quiet. Shops, banks, and offices are closed, taking a well-deserved Ruhetag (day of rest) to recharge. It’s partly a nod to the Christian Sabbath, but mainly a chance for families and friends to connect.

Public Holidays: Any Day, Anytime

This serene silence isn’t limited to Sundays. Public holidays, which can fall on any day of the week, bring Germany to a similar standstill.

Bridge Day Bonanza

Here’s where Germany gets creative: Brückentage (bridge days). When a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, people often take the Monday and Friday off, creating a glorious four-day break for just one vacation day.

Planning is Key!

These bridge days are coveted, so you need to book them early. But even without one, expect a deserted office—perfect for catching up on emails or, let’s be honest, browsing cat memes and finally learning that new TikTok dance craze.

Mayday! Mayday! It’s a Holiday Extravaganza

Just recently, May 9th was Christi Himmelfahrt (Ascension Day)—a public holiday in Germany (and some parts of Austria and Switzerland too!). This long weekend was a perfect prelude to the upcoming Pfingstsonntag (Whit Sunday) and Pfingstmontag (Whit Monday), making May a truly delightful month (a Wonnemonat).

The Takeaway?

Germany might seem eerily quiet on Sundays and holidays, but the Germans know how to maximise their relaxation time. Bridge days are genius, and who can argue with more family time?

So next time you experience the Sunday silence, embrace it.

Happy holidays (whenever they may fall).

PS: Don’t even think about using a lawnmower on Sundays—there are noise laws, and your neighbours have hawk-like hearing.