A1 Idiom Informal

Ein Fass aufmachen.

Open a barrel

Significado

To start a big discussion or make a fuss.

🌍

Contexto cultural

In traditional German 'Kneipen', tapping a new barrel was a moment of celebration. The shift to a negative meaning (starting a fuss) shows how social gatherings can quickly turn from fun to loud arguments. Germans value efficiency. 'Ein Fass aufmachen' is often used as a criticism of people who 'waste time' with emotional or unnecessary debates during work hours.

⚠️

Don't use with Bosses

Telling a superior 'Machen Sie kein Fass auf' is considered very disrespectful.

🎯

Use 'Riesenfass'

To sound more native, use 'ein Riesenfass aufmachen' when the drama is truly excessive.

Significado

To start a big discussion or make a fuss.

⚠️

Don't use with Bosses

Telling a superior 'Machen Sie kein Fass auf' is considered very disrespectful.

🎯

Use 'Riesenfass'

To sound more native, use 'ein Riesenfass aufmachen' when the drama is truly excessive.

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the missing part of the separable verb.

Er macht wegen der Verspätung ein Fass ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: auf

The idiom is 'ein Fass aufmachen'.

Which sentence is the correct figurative use?

Someone is complaining too much about a small error. What do you say?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Mach kein Fass auf!

This is the standard way to tell someone to stop making a scene.

Complete the dialogue.

A: 'Ich werde mich beim Chef über das kalte Wasser beschweren!' B: 'Ach komm, ______.'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mach kein Fass auf

B is trying to calm A down.

Match the phrase to the situation.

In which situation would you say 'Er hat ein Fass aufgemacht'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: He started a huge argument over a 10-cent difference.

The idiom refers to making an unnecessary fuss.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the missing part of the separable verb. Fill Blank A1

Er macht wegen der Verspätung ein Fass ______.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: auf

The idiom is 'ein Fass aufmachen'.

Which sentence is the correct figurative use? Choose A1

Someone is complaining too much about a small error. What do you say?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Mach kein Fass auf!

This is the standard way to tell someone to stop making a scene.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

A: 'Ich werde mich beim Chef über das kalte Wasser beschweren!' B: 'Ach komm, ______.'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mach kein Fass auf

B is trying to calm A down.

Match the phrase to the situation. situation_matching A2

In which situation would you say 'Er hat ein Fass aufgemacht'?

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: He started a huge argument over a 10-cent difference.

The idiom refers to making an unnecessary fuss.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

3 preguntas

It can be. It implies the other person is overreacting. Use it with people you know well.

No, it is almost always used for negative situations like arguments or complaints.

You rarely use the plural, but it would be 'Fässer aufmachen'. Usually, people just open one 'Fass' at a time.

Frases relacionadas

🔄

Viel Lärm um nichts

synonym

Much ado about nothing.

🔗

Aus einer Mücke einen Elefanten machen

similar

To make a mountain out of a molehill.

🔗

Den Ball flach halten

contrast

To keep a low profile / not overreact.

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