German sayings – Berliner sayings

My mother, geborene Clare Flatow, who was born in Berlin used many German sayings, maybe just Berliner sayings, which long after her death I recall and find very charming, and as we say here, ‘hit the nail on the head’. I guess that many of them are no longer current. Incidently her uncle Felix Flatow and Alfred Flatow (Olympian prize winners at the first modern games in Athens) were recently honoured with stolpersteine.

There is one saying which I wonder if anyone can help me with. Namely “ein Blick und ein Sechser” I have a fair idea what it means but would like others to help to make sure I am right. I have been told that ein sechser was a coin.

I have a list of some sayings I remember, including:

„Es passt wie die Faust aufs Auge.“
„Man wird alt wie eine Kuh und
lernt immer noch was dazu.“
„Je voller der Mund, je deutlicher die
Aussprache.“

Does anybody have a collection of such sayings, is there a book with such sayings?


Irene Sills
Chiffre 131317