hTTi

"Schlappe"

"Pferdeboxen"

"Unterhose"

On our way back down south and we have just passed the exit toward Dingolfing. Amazing how the brain works. I must always remind myself that this is not referring to a type of golfing that uses some contraption called a „din“.

ok, here is a German phrase of the day..... an I am looking for a suitable translation....

What do kids say in English that comes close to

Kreuzbirnbaumundhollerstauden!

I am thinking about something like

Fiddlesticks and biscuits

but if there is a real phrase, that would be great,

Thanks!

Isn't this Kind of old fashioned and used more by adults than kids, and sorta like saying "Jiminy Crickets!" (instead of JC)?

sorry, it's for a children's book and that is what the girl says.

Perhaps this minced oath, since it's a tongue twister:

things like

Jumpin’ Jehoshaphat!
Banana shenanigans!
Cheese and rice!

tor wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19, 2026 6:22 pm Kreuzbirnbaumundhollerstauden!
Thanks!

That is what is called a minced oath in English.

It is a little bit like a girl starting to swear with "Holy..." (And the adults take a deep breath expecting blasphemy like "... Christ" or "... mother") but then the girl wiggles out of that by saying "... moly".

* The noun "Kreuz" means "Cross", a very religious symbol, and any swearing starting with the word "Kreuz" could be seen as blasphemy.
* The verb "kreuzen" means "to crossbread" and the shortened form " kreuz' " is the imperative of "to crossbread".

So, the girl starts to swear by saying "Cross..." and then wiggles out of that by saying "...bread pear tree and elder bush!"

One needs to find a phrase that starts with sounding like blasphemy but then unexpectedly turns into something funny and non-blasphemic.

yes...

I thought about Jesus Mary and Joseph.

but that didnt quite seem to fit.

tor wrote: ↑Sun Jul 19, 2026 8:35 pm yes...

I thought about Jesus Mary and Joseph.

but that didnt quite seem to fit.

Sack cement and shovel!

my new favorite is:

Heavens to Murgatroyd

The expression “Heavens to Murgatroyd” was coined by the writers of the Yogi Bear cartoon series in 1961.

Heavens to Murgatroyd I'm old.