Haare auf den Zähnen haben
To be tough
حرفيًا: Haare (hairs) + auf (on) + den (the) + Zähnen (teeth) + haben (to have)
Use this to describe someone feisty who isn't afraid to speak their mind or stand their ground.
في 15 ثانية
- Describes someone who is tough, assertive, and sharp-tongued.
- Implies the person is not afraid of a verbal confrontation.
- Literally translates to having hair on one's teeth.
- Used mostly in casual or semi-casual conversations about people.
المعنى
This phrase describes someone who is tough, assertive, and not afraid to speak their mind. It is usually used for people who are a bit sharp-tongued or can be quite intimidating in an argument.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Discussing a strict but fair boss
Unsere neue Chefin hat echt Haare auf den Zähnen.
Our new boss really is quite tough.
Warning a friend about a grumpy neighbor
Pass auf, die Nachbarin hat Haare auf den Zähnen!
Watch out, the neighbor is quite sharp-tongued!
Reacting to a heated debate
Wow, sie hat wirklich Haare auf den Zähnen, wenn sie diskutiert.
Wow, she really doesn't pull any punches when she debates.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase stems from an old belief that body hair was a sign of raw physical strength and courage. In the past, it was often used as a slightly sexist remark toward assertive women, but today it has lost that specific sting and is used more generally for anyone who is feisty or combative. It reflects the German appreciation for 'Direktheit' (directness), even if it comes across as a bit prickly.
Gender Neutrality
While historically used more for women, you can absolutely use this for men today without any issues.
Not a Compliment
Careful! It’s not exactly an insult, but it’s not a compliment either. It implies the person is difficult to deal with.
في 15 ثانية
- Describes someone who is tough, assertive, and sharp-tongued.
- Implies the person is not afraid of a verbal confrontation.
- Literally translates to having hair on one's teeth.
- Used mostly in casual or semi-casual conversations about people.
What It Means
Imagine someone so tough that even their teeth grow hair. It sounds like a werewolf, right? That is the vibe here. When you say someone has Haare auf den Zähnen, you mean they are assertive. They do not take any nonsense. They are sharp-tongued and ready for a verbal fight. It is not necessarily an insult. It is more of an observation of their grit.
How To Use It
You use this to describe a person's character. It works best with the verb haben. You can say Sie hat Haare auf den Zähnen. This means she is feisty or tough. It describes someone who stands their ground easily. Use it when someone surprises you with their boldness. It is perfect for that one friend who always wins arguments.
When To Use It
Use it when discussing a tough boss. Use it when a friend handles a rude waiter perfectly. It fits well in office gossip or casual chats. If someone is being very direct, this phrase works. It is great for storytelling about a strong personality. You might use it while texting a friend about a heated meeting. It adds a bit of color to your description.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in a formal performance review. It is too colorful for official documents. Avoid using it if you want to be very polite. It can sound a bit critical if the person is sensitive. Do not use it for someone who is just mean. It implies a certain level of strength or defensiveness. If someone is truly kind, this phrase will not fit them.
Cultural Background
This idiom dates back centuries. In old folklore, hair was a symbol of strength and masculinity. Think of Samson from the Bible. Having hair in unusual places meant extra power. Even on the teeth! Back then, it was mostly used for women who were 'manly' or assertive. Today, it is used for anyone with a sharp tongue. It is a classic piece of German linguistic history.
Common Variations
You will mostly hear it in its standard form. Sometimes people add adverbs for emphasis. You might hear ordentlich Haare auf den Zähnen. This means they have 'quite a lot' of hair on their teeth. It just means they are extra tough. There are no common shortened versions. The full image of hairy teeth is what makes it stick.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This phrase is firmly in the informal/casual register. It's perfect for talking about people behind their backs (in a descriptive way) or describing a tough character in a story.
Gender Neutrality
While historically used more for women, you can absolutely use this for men today without any issues.
Not a Compliment
Careful! It’s not exactly an insult, but it’s not a compliment either. It implies the person is difficult to deal with.
The 'Biss' Factor
Germans value 'Biss' (bite/grit). This phrase is the more colorful, slightly more negative way of saying someone has a lot of 'Biss'.
أمثلة
6Unsere neue Chefin hat echt Haare auf den Zähnen.
Our new boss really is quite tough.
Used here to describe professional assertiveness.
Pass auf, die Nachbarin hat Haare auf den Zähnen!
Watch out, the neighbor is quite sharp-tongued!
A friendly warning about a difficult personality.
Wow, sie hat wirklich Haare auf den Zähnen, wenn sie diskutiert.
Wow, she really doesn't pull any punches when she debates.
Expressing surprise at someone's debating skills.
Der Verkäufer hatte ordentlich Haare auf den Zähnen.
The salesman was really aggressive/tough.
Describing a slightly unpleasant but strong interaction.
In diesem Job muss man Haare auf den Zähnen haben.
In this job, you have to be tough.
Explaining that toughness is a requirement.
Oma hat heute wieder Haare auf den Zähnen!
Grandma is in a feisty mood again today!
Lighthearted comment on an elderly relative's sassiness.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence to describe a tough person.
Sei vorsichtig mit ihr, sie hat ___ auf den Zähnen.
The idiom is `Haare auf den Zähnen haben`. 'Zucker' (sugar) or 'Angst' (fear) would not make sense in this context.
Which verb completes the idiom?
Er ___ Haare auf den Zähnen.
The idiom uses the verb `haben` (to have).
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'Haare auf den Zähnen haben'
Talking with friends about a feisty acquaintance.
Echt Haare auf den Zähnen!
Describing a person's character in a story.
Sie hat Haare auf den Zähnen.
Avoid in professional reports; use 'durchsetzungsstark' instead.
N/A
When to say someone has hair on their teeth
Negotiating a price
The seller is very firm.
Office politics
A colleague who defends their ideas fiercely.
Family arguments
A relative who always has a comeback.
Customer Service
Dealing with a very blunt clerk.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIt is not inherently rude, but it is very direct. If you say it about someone while they are listening, they might take offense as it suggests they are combative.
Yes, you can. Although it was historically more common for women, modern German uses it for anyone who is tough or sharp-tongued, like Er hat Haare auf den Zähnen.
Not necessarily. It means they are assertive and perhaps a bit aggressive in how they speak. They might be a very good person who just doesn't take any crap.
In a professional setting, you should use durchsetzungsstark (assertive) or schlagfertig (quick-witted) instead.
No, please don't check their mouth! It is purely metaphorical, based on old ideas of hair representing strength.
It is pronounced like 'TSAY-nen'. The 'Z' is a sharp 'ts' sound, and the 'ä' is a long 'ay' sound.
You could, in a joking way, like Ich habe heute Haare auf den Zähnen. It warns others that you are not in the mood for games.
Yes, it is a very common A2/B1 level idiom that most native speakers use regularly in casual conversation.
That doesn't mean the same thing. People will just think you literally have hair in your mouth! Stick to auf den Zähnen.
Not exactly, but schlagfertig is the positive version of being good with words and quick with a comeback.
عبارات ذات صلة
Schlagfertig sein
To be quick-witted/good at comebacks
Ein dickes Fell haben
To be thick-skinned
Nicht auf den Mund gefallen sein
To be articulate/never at a loss for words
Jemandem die Stirn bieten
To stand up to someone
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