Example: Er sollte den Mund nicht zu voll nehmen und realistisch bleiben.
Definition
"Den Mund zu voll nehmen" is a German expression meaning to boast or claim more than one can actually achieve. It describes a person who talks confidently about their abilities or plans but might be exaggerating or overestimating themselves.
Translations
bite off more than one can chew
abarcar demasiado
te hoog van de toren blazen
voler fer massa
voir trop grand
Etymology
The phrase "den Mund zu voll nehmen" literally translates to "to take the mouth too full" in English. It originates from the idea of trying to fit too much food into one's mouth at once, symbolizing overambition or exaggeration. Did you know it humorously warns against trying to swallow more than you can handle?
Learn to use this expression actively
"Den Mund zu voll nehmen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
Would you like to not only understand these expressions, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select German as the language you want to learn.
bite off more than one can chew