Example: Man sollte nicht ständig den Teufel an die Wand malen, sonst entsteht unnötige Angst.
Definition
"Den Teufel an die Wand malen" is a German idiom meaning to imagine or predict the worst possible outcome unnecessarily, often causing undue fear or anxiety. It is used to caution against pessimism or creating problems where there are none.
Translations
paint the devil on the wall
verlo todo negro
doemdenken
veure-ho tot negre
voir tout en noir
Etymology
The phrase "den Teufel an die Wand malen" literally translates to 'paint the devil on the wall.' It originates from the superstition that depicting the devil would summon him, so the saying warns against conjuring negative outcomes by imagining them. Did you know? The phrase reflects a common human tendency to fear what we imagine most vividly.
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"Den Teufel an die Wand malen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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paint the devil on the wall