B1 Colloquial Excess

„Das schlägt dem Faß den Boden aus."

That spoils the whole business. That's the last straw.

Das schlägt dem Faß den Boden aus. — German idiom meaning: That spoils the whole business. That's the last straw. (B1)
Das schlägt dem Faß den Boden aus. — German idiom reference | DeuTale

What does „Das schlägt dem Faß den Boden aus." mean in German?

„Das schlägt dem Faß den Boden aus." means "That spoils the whole business. That's the last straw.." Literally: "That knocks the bottom out of the barrel.."

Literal Translation

"That knocks the bottom out of the barrel."

Das That
schlägt knocks
dem the
Faß bottom
den out
Boden of
aus the

English Equivalent

"That's the last straw."

This English idiom conveys the same meaning as the German expression.

Grammar Notes

'dem Fass den Boden ausschlagen'

Modern Form

Modern spelling: „Das schlägt dem Fass den Boden aus."

When is this idiom used?

Colloquial

This expression is used in everyday spoken German in casual and semi-formal settings.

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