Signification
To be very nervous, impatient, or anxious about something.
Contexte culturel
The phrase is often used in the context of German 'Vereinsleben' (club life) or sports, where fans are famously passionate and anxious about results. In Austria, you might also hear 'auf Nadeln sitzen', but 'glühende Kohlen' remains a standard literary and conversational choice. Swiss German speakers use the standard German idiom in formal contexts, though local dialects have their own colorful variations for impatience. In international German-speaking business, this phrase is a polite way to signal that a delay is causing stress without being overly aggressive.
Use with 'lassen'
If you want to complain about someone making you wait, say: 'Lass mich nicht auf glühenden Kohlen sitzen!'
Plural is key
Always use 'Kohlen' (plural). Using the singular 'Kohle' makes it sound like you are sitting on money (slang).
Signification
To be very nervous, impatient, or anxious about something.
Use with 'lassen'
If you want to complain about someone making you wait, say: 'Lass mich nicht auf glühenden Kohlen sitzen!'
Plural is key
Always use 'Kohlen' (plural). Using the singular 'Kohle' makes it sound like you are sitting on money (slang).
Combine with 'innerlich'
To sound more native, use 'innerlich' (internally) if you are trying to look calm on the outside: 'Ich saß innerlich auf glühenden Kohlen.'
Teste-toi
Fülle die Lücken mit der richtigen Form von 'auf glühenden Kohlen sitzen'.
Ich habe gestern mein Examen geschrieben. Jetzt _______ ich ______ _______ _______.
The subject is 'Ich', so the verb is 'sitze'. The rest is the fixed idiom.
Welche Situation passt am besten zu diesem Idiom?
Wann sitzt man auf glühenden Kohlen?
The idiom describes anxious waiting, which fits the phone call scenario.
Verbinde die Satzteile.
Match the beginning to the end.
Matches verbs and subjects to the idiomatic phrase.
Vervollständige den Dialog.
A: Warum läufst du so unruhig hin und her? B: ____________________.
The physical restlessness (hin und her laufen) is a symptom of 'sitting on glowing coals'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesIch habe gestern mein Examen geschrieben. Jetzt _______ ich ______ _______ _______.
The subject is 'Ich', so the verb is 'sitze'. The rest is the fixed idiom.
Wann sitzt man auf glühenden Kohlen?
The idiom describes anxious waiting, which fits the phone call scenario.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Matches verbs and subjects to the idiomatic phrase.
A: Warum läufst du so unruhig hin und her? B: ____________________.
The physical restlessness (hin und her laufen) is a symptom of 'sitting on glowing coals'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsNo, it's not rude. It's a very common way to express that you are excited or nervous about something.
You can use it *after* the interview to describe how you felt, but maybe not *during* the interview as it might show too much lack of composure.
They are interchangeable. 'Kohlen' is slightly more common in literature and formal speech, while 'Nadeln' is very common in everyday talk.
In slang, yes. But in this idiom, it strictly refers to the burning material (coal/embers).
Both are used, but 'glühenden' is the more traditional and common version.
Expressions liées
Hummeln im Hintern haben
similarTo be restless or hyperactive.
Jemanden auf die Folter spannen
builds onTo keep someone in suspense.
Nägel kauen
similarTo bite one's nails.
Die Wände hochgehen
similarTo climb the walls (from frustration or nervousness).
