ins Auge gehen
To backfire
Literalmente: to go into the eye
Use it when a risky plan fails and causes more trouble than it was worth.
Em 15 segundos
- Used when a plan or action fails with negative consequences.
- Translates literally to 'going into the eye'.
- Perfect for risky situations or unexpected backfires.
Significado
This phrase describes a situation where a plan or action goes completely wrong. It is used when something you tried to do fails and actually causes a problem for you.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Warning a friend about a risky shortcut
Nimm nicht den Waldweg, das kann bei dem Regen ins Auge gehen.
Don't take the forest path; that could backfire in this rain.
Discussing a failed marketing campaign
Die neue Werbung ist leider total ins Auge gegangen.
Unfortunately, the new advertisement totally backfired.
Texting about a cooking disaster
Mein Versuch, Sushi selbst zu machen, ist echt ins Auge gegangen. Pizza ist bestellt!
My attempt to make sushi myself really backfired. Pizza is ordered!
Contexto cultural
The phrase evokes the vulnerability of the human eye, suggesting that a mistake has hit where it hurts most. It reflects a cultural emphasis on precision; in a society that values 'Vorsorge' (precaution), this idiom is the ultimate 'I told you so' for reckless behavior.
Add 'böse' for drama
If you want to sound more native, add the word 'böse' (badly). Saying 'Das ist böse ins Auge gegangen' makes the failure sound much more dramatic and serious.
Don't confuse with 'im Auge behalten'
Be careful! 'Im Auge behalten' means 'to keep an eye on something'. One is about failure, the other is about monitoring.
Em 15 segundos
- Used when a plan or action fails with negative consequences.
- Translates literally to 'going into the eye'.
- Perfect for risky situations or unexpected backfires.
What It Means
Imagine you are trying to do something clever. Suddenly, it fails in a spectacular way. That is ins Auge gehen. It means a plan backfired. It suggests that the outcome was painful or unexpected. It is like trying to throw a ball and hitting yourself in the face.
How To Use It
You usually use this phrase with the verb können or in the past tense. You say Das kann ins Auge gehen when you see a risk. If the disaster already happened, you say Das ist ins Auge gegangen. It is very flexible. You can use it for small mishaps or big business failures. It always carries a sense of 'I told you so' or 'that was risky'.
When To Use It
Use it when a shortcut leads to a longer delay. Use it when a joke makes someone angry instead of laughing. It is perfect for talking about office politics. If a colleague tries to trick the boss and gets caught, use it. It works at home too. Maybe you tried to fix the sink and flooded the kitchen? That definitely went ins Auge.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for natural disasters or true tragedies. It is too light for a death or a major illness. Avoid it in extremely formal legal documents. It is a bit too colorful for a court of law. Also, do not use it if something just didn't happen. It must be a failure that has a negative consequence.
Cultural Background
Germans love efficiency and planning. When a plan fails, it is a big deal. This phrase likely comes from old sports or combat. Think of an arrow or a splinter hitting the eye. The eye is our most sensitive part. Hitting it means a total failure of aim. It reflects the German fear of 'Pfusch' (badly done work).
Common Variations
You might hear das ging nach hinten los. This means 'that went off backwards' like a gun. Both mean the same thing. Ins Auge gehen is slightly more common in daily speech. You can also say das hätte ins Auge gehen können for a near-miss. It is the perfect way to describe a 'close call'.
Notas de uso
The phrase is neutral and safe for most daily interactions. Just remember it requires the preposition 'in' plus the accusative 'das Auge' (shortened to 'ins').
Add 'böse' for drama
If you want to sound more native, add the word 'böse' (badly). Saying 'Das ist böse ins Auge gegangen' makes the failure sound much more dramatic and serious.
Don't confuse with 'im Auge behalten'
Be careful! 'Im Auge behalten' means 'to keep an eye on something'. One is about failure, the other is about monitoring.
The 'Schadenfreude' link
This phrase is often the precursor to Schadenfreude. When someone ignores your advice and it 'ins Auge geht', that's exactly when a German might feel that secret joy.
Exemplos
6Nimm nicht den Waldweg, das kann bei dem Regen ins Auge gehen.
Don't take the forest path; that could backfire in this rain.
Using 'kann' to express a potential risk.
Die neue Werbung ist leider total ins Auge gegangen.
Unfortunately, the new advertisement totally backfired.
Professional context describing a business failure.
Mein Versuch, Sushi selbst zu machen, ist echt ins Auge gegangen. Pizza ist bestellt!
My attempt to make sushi myself really backfired. Pizza is ordered!
Casual and self-deprecating humor.
Dein Witz ist bei dem Chef wohl ins Auge gegangen.
Your joke seems to have backfired with the boss.
Observing a social awkwardness.
Das hätte böse ins Auge gehen können!
That could have ended very badly!
Using 'böse' (badly/evilly) to add emphasis to a dangerous situation.
Die Investition ist leider ins Auge gegangen.
The investment unfortunately went south.
Commonly used for financial losses.
Teste-se
Choose the correct past tense form.
Sein Plan, die Hausaufgaben abzuschreiben, ist leider ___.
We use the Perfekt tense 'ist ... gegangen' to describe a completed failure.
Complete the warning.
Pass auf! Das kann ___ gehen.
The idiom specifically uses 'Auge' (eye) to denote a backfire.
🎉 Pontuação: /2
Recursos visuais
Formality Scale of 'ins Auge gehen'
Slang alternatives like 'voll verkackt'.
Das ist voll verkackt.
Standard daily use with friends or colleagues.
Das ist ins Auge gegangen.
Professional setting, but still using the idiom.
Das Projekt könnte ins Auge gehen.
Avoided in legal or academic writing.
Es resultierte in einem Misserfolg.
Where to use 'ins Auge gehen'
Cooking mishaps
Salt instead of sugar? Ins Auge gegangen!
Risky Sports
Skiing without a helmet? Kann ins Auge gehen.
Office Politics
Lying to the boss about a deadline.
DIY Projects
Trying to fix the TV yourself.
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasYes, it works for everything from putting too much salt in soup to losing a million-euro contract. For example: Die Suppe ist ins Auge gegangen.
It can be a bit 'told you so'. If you say it about someone else's failure, it might sound like you are judging their risky choice.
They are almost identical. Nach hinten losgehen is like a gun recoiling, while ins Auge gehen is about the painful result. Both are interchangeable.
No, this phrase is exclusively for negative outcomes or failures. There is no version where it 'goes into the eye' and is good.
Yes, it is very common in professional settings to describe risks. Das Risiko ist zu groß, das könnte ins Auge gehen.
Almost never. It is 99% used metaphorically for plans and actions, not physical injuries.
You use the Konjunktiv II: Das wäre fast ins Auge gegangen.
It uses the accusative case because there is movement 'into' the eye. That's why it is ins (in das) and not im (in dem).
Yes, younger people might say Das ist voll nach hinten losgegangen or simply Das war ein Fail.
Only if the relationship was a 'plan' or 'experiment' that failed. It sounds a bit cold for a serious romantic breakup.
Frases relacionadas
nach hinten losgehen
to backfire (like a gun)
ein Schlag ins Wasser
a complete failure / a waste of effort
etwas in den Sand setzen
to mess something up completely
im Auge behalten
to keep an eye on something
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