jemandem ein Ohr abkauen
To talk too much
حرفيًا: to chew someone's ear off
Use this to humorously describe someone who won't stop talking in casual, low-stakes situations.
في 15 ثانية
- Used when someone talks way too much for too long.
- The listener feels exhausted or trapped by the constant talking.
- Very common in casual, everyday German conversations and storytelling.
المعنى
This phrase describes someone who talks incessantly without letting you get a word in. It is used when a conversation feels like an endurance test for your ears.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Complaining about a neighbor
Mein Nachbar hat mir heute wieder ein Ohr abgekaut.
My neighbor chewed my ear off again today.
Apologizing after a long phone call
Tut mir leid, habe ich dir ein Ohr abgekaut?
I'm sorry, did I talk your ear off?
Warning a friend about a coworker
Pass auf, Herr Schmidt kaut dir gerne ein Ohr ab.
Watch out, Mr. Schmidt likes to talk your ear off.
خلفية ثقافية
The phrase reflects the German love for vivid, anatomical idioms. It likely evolved from the physical sensation of ear fatigue during long-winded stories. While Germans value privacy, once the 'ice is broken,' long-form storytelling is a common social staple.
The Dative Secret
Always remember the person being talked to is in the dative case (`mir`, `dir`, `ihm`). It's not 'chewing me', it's 'chewing the ear TO me'.
Don't be too mean
While funny, saying this directly to someone's face can be rude unless you have a very close relationship.
في 15 ثانية
- Used when someone talks way too much for too long.
- The listener feels exhausted or trapped by the constant talking.
- Very common in casual, everyday German conversations and storytelling.
What It Means
Imagine someone talking so much that your ear literally starts to hurt. In German, we say they are 'chewing' it off. It describes a one-sided conversation. The speaker is usually very enthusiastic or just lacks a filter. You are the passive listener trapped in their verbal marathon. It is a vivid way to describe being talked at, not with.
How To Use It
You use the dative case for the person being talked to. For example, Er kaut mir ein Ohr ab. The verb abkauen is separable. This means the ab moves to the end of the sentence. You can use it to complain about others. You can also use it to apologize for your own talking. It is a very common, everyday expression.
When To Use It
Use it when your neighbor stops you for an hour. Use it when a friend is venting about their ex-partner. It is perfect for describing that one colleague who loves meetings. You can use it jokingly with close friends. 'Sorry, did I chew your ear off?' is a great way to end a long story. It shows you are self-aware and funny.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in very formal business settings. Do not say it to your boss during a performance review. It sounds a bit too graphic and informal for a funeral. If someone is sharing deep grief, this phrase is too lighthearted. It implies the talking is slightly annoying or excessive. Use it only when the situation is low-stakes.
Cultural Background
Germans are often seen as direct and efficient. However, once a German starts a deep conversation, they can go on forever. This phrase captures the physical exhaustion of a long 'Kaffeeklatsch'. It has been part of the language for a long time. It reflects a very physical, earthy sense of humor. It is similar to the English 'talk your ear off' but feels slightly more 'crunchy'.
Common Variations
You might also hear jemandem ein Loch in den Bauch fragen. That means asking too many questions. Another one is jemandem das Ohr blutig quatschen. That means 'to talk someone's ear bloody'. These all share the same theme: communication as a physical struggle. Stick to Ohr abkauen for the most common version.
ملاحظات الاستخدام
This is a classic 'Bilderbuch-Idom' (picture-book idiom). It's safe for A2 learners to use in casual settings to sound more like a native speaker.
The Dative Secret
Always remember the person being talked to is in the dative case (`mir`, `dir`, `ihm`). It's not 'chewing me', it's 'chewing the ear TO me'.
Don't be too mean
While funny, saying this directly to someone's face can be rude unless you have a very close relationship.
The 'Kaffeeklatsch' Connection
This phrase is the unofficial mascot of the German 'Kaffeeklatsch' (coffee and gossip session). It's expected there!
أمثلة
6Mein Nachbar hat mir heute wieder ein Ohr abgekaut.
My neighbor chewed my ear off again today.
Uses the past tense 'abgekaut' to describe a finished event.
Tut mir leid, habe ich dir ein Ohr abgekaut?
I'm sorry, did I talk your ear off?
A polite, self-deprecating way to check in with a friend.
Pass auf, Herr Schmidt kaut dir gerne ein Ohr ab.
Watch out, Mr. Schmidt likes to talk your ear off.
A warning about a person's known personality trait.
Hilfe, er kaut mir seit zwei Stunden ein Ohr ab!
Help, he's been talking my ear off for two hours!
Perfect for a quick SOS text message.
Das Kind hat uns den ganzen Weg ein Ohr abgekaut.
The child talked our ears off the whole way.
Shows that even cute talking can be exhausting.
Ich wollte nur kurz Kaffee holen, aber Thomas hat mir ein Ohr abgekaut.
I just wanted to grab coffee, but Thomas talked my ear off.
Common office small talk among colleagues.
اختبر نفسك
Complete the sentence using the correct form of the phrase.
Meine Tante ist nett, aber sie ___ mir immer ein Ohr ___.
The subject 'sie' (she) requires the third-person singular verb 'kaut', and 'ab' moves to the end.
Which pronoun fits best in this dative construction?
Hör auf, ___ ein Ohr abzukauen!
The phrase uses the dative case for the person whose ear is being 'chewed'.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
When to use 'Ein Ohr abkauen'
Used with best friends or siblings.
Du kaust mir echt 'n Ohr ab!
Standard casual conversation.
Er hat mir ein Ohr abgekaut.
Describing a situation to a neutral party.
Die Kundin hat mir ein Ohr abgekaut.
Too graphic for high-level meetings.
N/A (Avoid)
Common Ear-Chewing Scenarios
Family Gatherings
The talkative aunt.
Public Transport
The stranger on the train.
Office Kitchen
The colleague during lunch break.
Phone Calls
The friend who won't hang up.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةIt depends on the tone. If said behind someone's back, it's a complaint; if said to a friend, it's usually a humorous observation like Du kaust mir ein Ohr ab!.
It's great for informal writing like emails to friends or stories, but keep it out of formal essays or reports.
The most common past tense is the Perfekt: hat abgekaut. For example: Er hat mir gestern ein Ohr abgekaut.
Usually, we stick to one ear (ein Ohr), even if the person is talking to a group. It sounds more idiomatic that way.
No, it just means they are talking a lot. The content could be true, boring, or exciting, but the volume is the issue.
You can, but it's less common. Ein Ohr abkauen is the standard set phrase.
Quatschen just means to chat. Ein Ohr abkauen implies that the chatting has become excessive or exhausting for the listener.
Yes, this is a standard German idiom understood from Berlin to Munich.
Yes! If a podcast episode is very long and talkative, you could say: Die Moderatoren haben mir ein Ohr abgekaut.
Instead of this phrase, you could say Er redet sehr viel (He talks a lot) or Er ist sehr mitteilsam (He is very communicative).
عبارات ذات صلة
jemandem ein Loch in den Bauch fragen
wie ein Wasserfall reden
viel um den heißen Brei herumreden
jemanden vollquatschen
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