Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The German idiom for beating around the bush is um den heißen Brei herumreden, which literally translates to talking around the hot porridge. This phrase is used in both professional and social contexts to express that someone is being indirect or avoiding the main topic of a conversation.
Hallo zusammen! If you have ever tried to translate English idioms literally into German, you probably realized that it rarely works. I am breaking down why Germans swap bushes and sticks for a bowl of hot porridge and how you can use this phrase to sound like a native speaker. We are looking at the linguistic mechanics behind this expression and I will give you a much more direct alternative for when you are actually losing your patience.
We are covering B1-B2 level vocabulary, including the pronunciation of the German diphthong "ei" and how compound verbs like herumreden work in practice. I will also dive into the fascinating medieval origins of both the English and German versions – from hunting birds in bushes to a cat walking around a hot plate. It is a deep dive into "Social Fluency" that will help you navigate uncomfortable conversations in Germany with ease.
Whether you are struggling to get to the point or you just want to understand the weird logic of German metaphors, this lesson has you covered. Let's look at the porridge and find out why Germans are so obsessed with getting to the point.
00:00 English vs. German: Bushes vs. Porridge
00:38 Trivia: The first time I heard this (Bloodhound Gang)
01:05 Meaning: Why we avoid the elephant in the room
01:39 The German Equivalent: "Um den heißen Brei herumreden"
02:09 Pronunciation: The German diphthong "ei" (Brei)
02:51 Grammar: Compound verbs and "herumreden"
03:09 Direct Alternative: "Komm endlich zum Punkt!"
04:02 Origin 1: Medieval hunting and beating bushes
04:43 Origin 2: The "Hot Porridge" and the Cat Theory
05:42 Conclusion: Speak like a native
Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/definitelygerman
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/definitely.german
What is a weird idiom in your native language that sounds totally crazy when translated literally into English? Let me know in the comments!
Q: What does “nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden” mean?
A: It is the German equivalent of "don't beat around the bush" and is used to tell someone to stop avoiding a topic and address it directly.
Q: Is "Komm zum Punkt" rude in German?
A: It is very direct and shows impatience. While it is common among friends or in stressful work situations, it might be perceived as slightly impolite in formal settings.
#LearnGerman #GermanIdioms #SpeakGerman #GermanPhrases #DefinitelyGerman
✅ Learn German with Dave — your go-to place for authentic German language, culture & media insights!
Support my work:
PATREON ➜ patreon.com/definitelygerman
KO-FI / PAYPAL ➜ ko-fi.com/definitelygerman
Become a YouTube channel member:
youtube.com/channel/UCnZ0C4deOyB_TUFSJK3L4lg/join
Quick Links:
🌐 ALL my projects & links ➜ https://linktr.ee/DaveDurden
📜 Legal info (Impressum) ➜ dave-durden.com/impressum
Follow for authentic German language & culture content:
INSTAGRAM ➜ instagram.com/definitelygerman
TIKTOK ➜ tiktok.com/@definitelygerman
FACEBOOK ➜ facebook.com/definitelygerman
DISCORD ➜ discord.gg/9DJatfyJgN
TWITCH ➜ twitch.tv/definitely_german
Shop:
Merch for German learners, polyglots & fans ➜ definitelygerman-shop.fourthwall.com
Podcast:
Listen to the Definitely German Podcast ➜ https://anchor.fm/s/ffe0c644/podcast/rss
or on YouTube ➜ youtube.com/@definitelygermanpodcast
German Language Hacks (Shorts):
youtube.com/@GermanLanguageHacks
German Let’s Plays:
youtube.com/@DaveDurdenTV
PO Box:
Jan Müller
855379311
Packstation 118
59755 Arnsberg
Germany
(Max. size: 60cm x 35cm x 35cm)
My YouTube Setup:
CAM ➜ amzn.to/2YeNk0h
LIGHTS ➜ amzn.to/3vNrTPd
GREEN SCREEN ➜ amzn.to/3twK2zh
MIC ➜ amzn.to/3uvrJeV
PREAMP ➜ amzn.to/3tzQHsd
AUDIO INTERFACE ➜ amzn.to/2jGZs4U5
AUDIO: Audacity, Adobe Audition
VIDEO EDITING: Adobe Premiere Pro
THUMBNAILS: Adobe Photoshop
SCREENS ➜ amzn.to/3JMm1yG
CPU ➜ amzn.to/3mLKEOT
MAINBOARD ➜ amzn.to/3gfS3U5
RAM ➜ amzn.to/3lPIah4
HDD ➜ amzn.to/3mS6W1C
GPU ➜ amzn.to/3HpnRUW
PSU ➜ amzn.to/3S9IwRM
CASE ➜ amzn.to/3vQOp9L
KEYBOARD ➜ amzn.to/3JKX4Uh
MOUSE ➜ amzn.to/3f2nLEj
PAD ➜ amzn.to/3nZqGS1
Disclaimer:
I’m not sponsored by any brand or company mentioned. Affiliate links help support the channel — thank you!
Intro song ‘The Engine’ by @DerRockSchopp
The German idiom for beating around the bush is um den heißen Brei herumreden, which literally translates to talking around the hot porridge. This phrase is used in both professional and social contexts to express that someone is being indirect or avoiding the main topic of a conversation.
Hallo zusammen! If you have ever tried to translate English idioms literally into German, you probably realized that it rarely works. I am breaking down why Germans swap bushes and sticks for a bowl of hot porridge and how you can use this phrase to sound like a native speaker. We are looking at the linguistic mechanics behind this expression and I will give you a much more direct alternative for when you are actually losing your patience.
We are covering B1-B2 level vocabulary, including the pronunciation of the German diphthong "ei" and how compound verbs like herumreden work in practice. I will also dive into the fascinating medieval origins of both the English and German versions – from hunting birds in bushes to a cat walking around a hot plate. It is a deep dive into "Social Fluency" that will help you navigate uncomfortable conversations in Germany with ease.
Whether you are struggling to get to the point or you just want to understand the weird logic of German metaphors, this lesson has you covered. Let's look at the porridge and find out why Germans are so obsessed with getting to the point.
00:00 English vs. German: Bushes vs. Porridge
00:38 Trivia: The first time I heard this (Bloodhound Gang)
01:05 Meaning: Why we avoid the elephant in the room
01:39 The German Equivalent: "Um den heißen Brei herumreden"
02:09 Pronunciation: The German diphthong "ei" (Brei)
02:51 Grammar: Compound verbs and "herumreden"
03:09 Direct Alternative: "Komm endlich zum Punkt!"
04:02 Origin 1: Medieval hunting and beating bushes
04:43 Origin 2: The "Hot Porridge" and the Cat Theory
05:42 Conclusion: Speak like a native
Support the channel on Patreon: patreon.com/definitelygerman
Follow me on Instagram: instagram.com/definitely.german
What is a weird idiom in your native language that sounds totally crazy when translated literally into English? Let me know in the comments!
Q: What does “nicht um den heißen Brei herumreden” mean?
A: It is the German equivalent of "don't beat around the bush" and is used to tell someone to stop avoiding a topic and address it directly.
Q: Is "Komm zum Punkt" rude in German?
A: It is very direct and shows impatience. While it is common among friends or in stressful work situations, it might be perceived as slightly impolite in formal settings.
#LearnGerman #GermanIdioms #SpeakGerman #GermanPhrases #DefinitelyGerman
✅ Learn German with Dave — your go-to place for authentic German language, culture & media insights!
Support my work:
PATREON ➜ patreon.com/definitelygerman
KO-FI / PAYPAL ➜ ko-fi.com/definitelygerman
Become a YouTube channel member:
youtube.com/channel/UCnZ0C4deOyB_TUFSJK3L4lg/join
Quick Links:
🌐 ALL my projects & links ➜ https://linktr.ee/DaveDurden
📜 Legal info (Impressum) ➜ dave-durden.com/impressum
Follow for authentic German language & culture content:
INSTAGRAM ➜ instagram.com/definitelygerman
TIKTOK ➜ tiktok.com/@definitelygerman
FACEBOOK ➜ facebook.com/definitelygerman
DISCORD ➜ discord.gg/9DJatfyJgN
TWITCH ➜ twitch.tv/definitely_german
Shop:
Merch for German learners, polyglots & fans ➜ definitelygerman-shop.fourthwall.com
Podcast:
Listen to the Definitely German Podcast ➜ https://anchor.fm/s/ffe0c644/podcast/rss
or on YouTube ➜ youtube.com/@definitelygermanpodcast
German Language Hacks (Shorts):
youtube.com/@GermanLanguageHacks
German Let’s Plays:
youtube.com/@DaveDurdenTV
PO Box:
Jan Müller
855379311
Packstation 118
59755 Arnsberg
Germany
(Max. size: 60cm x 35cm x 35cm)
My YouTube Setup:
CAM ➜ amzn.to/2YeNk0h
LIGHTS ➜ amzn.to/3vNrTPd
GREEN SCREEN ➜ amzn.to/3twK2zh
MIC ➜ amzn.to/3uvrJeV
PREAMP ➜ amzn.to/3tzQHsd
AUDIO INTERFACE ➜ amzn.to/2jGZs4U5
AUDIO: Audacity, Adobe Audition
VIDEO EDITING: Adobe Premiere Pro
THUMBNAILS: Adobe Photoshop
SCREENS ➜ amzn.to/3JMm1yG
CPU ➜ amzn.to/3mLKEOT
MAINBOARD ➜ amzn.to/3gfS3U5
RAM ➜ amzn.to/3lPIah4
HDD ➜ amzn.to/3mS6W1C
GPU ➜ amzn.to/3HpnRUW
PSU ➜ amzn.to/3S9IwRM
CASE ➜ amzn.to/3vQOp9L
KEYBOARD ➜ amzn.to/3JKX4Uh
MOUSE ➜ amzn.to/3f2nLEj
PAD ➜ amzn.to/3nZqGS1
Disclaimer:
I’m not sponsored by any brand or company mentioned. Affiliate links help support the channel — thank you!
Intro song ‘The Engine’ by @DerRockSchopp
