Meaning
Something that is no longer relevant or important.
Cultural Background
In Germany, being direct is valued. Using this phrase is a polite but very clear way to tell someone to stop talking about the past. It helps maintain 'Frieden' (peace) in social groups. Austrians use this phrase similarly, though they might also use 'Das is a oide G'schicht' (That's an old story) in dialect. In Swiss German, the concept remains the same, often used in business contexts to focus on current 'Präzision' (precision) rather than past errors. In international German-speaking business environments, this phrase is a standard way to manage time and keep meetings focused on future goals.
Use it for Forgiveness
It is the most natural way to accept an apology in German. It sounds much warmer than just saying 'Okay'.
Don't use for People
If you say a person is 'Schnee von gestern', it sounds like they are dead or completely erased from history. Use 'von gestern sein' for 'old-fashioned' instead.
Meaning
Something that is no longer relevant or important.
Use it for Forgiveness
It is the most natural way to accept an apology in German. It sounds much warmer than just saying 'Okay'.
Don't use for People
If you say a person is 'Schnee von gestern', it sounds like they are dead or completely erased from history. Use 'von gestern sein' for 'old-fashioned' instead.
The 'Kalter Kaffee' Alternative
If you want to sound even more casual with friends, try 'Das ist kalter Kaffee'. It's very common in Berlin and Northern Germany.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Dein Fehler vom letzten Jahr ist doch ______ von ______.
The fixed idiom is 'Schnee von gestern'.
Which sentence is the most natural way to say 'That's old news'?
Jemand erzählt dir eine Geschichte, die du schon kennst. Was sagst du?
'Schnee von gestern' is the standard idiom for old news.
Match the situation to the response.
Situation: Ein Freund entschuldigt sich für eine Verspätung vor einer Woche.
You use this phrase to show that the past mistake no longer matters.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Bist du noch böse wegen gestern?' B: 'Nein, ______.'
B wants to say they are no longer angry.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Past vs. Present
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDein Fehler vom letzten Jahr ist doch ______ von ______.
The fixed idiom is 'Schnee von gestern'.
Jemand erzählt dir eine Geschichte, die du schon kennst. Was sagst du?
'Schnee von gestern' is the standard idiom for old news.
Situation: Ein Freund entschuldigt sich für eine Verspätung vor einer Woche.
You use this phrase to show that the past mistake no longer matters.
A: 'Bist du noch böse wegen gestern?' B: 'Nein, ______.'
B wants to say they are no longer angry.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, the idiom is fixed with 'Schnee'. Changing it to rain or wind will make it lose its idiomatic meaning.
It depends on your tone. If used to move past an old error, it's professional. If used to ignore a colleague's valid point, it's rude.
No, it can refer to news, personal conflicts, outdated technology, or even old fashion trends.
'Schwamm drüber' is an invitation to forget something. 'Schnee von gestern' is a statement that it is already forgotten/irrelevant.
In this phrase, 'gestern' functions as a noun following the preposition 'von', but it is not capitalized unless it starts the sentence.
Yes! Even though it says 'yesterday', it can refer to anything in the past, no matter how long ago.
A more formal way to say this is 'Das ist nicht mehr aktuell' or 'Das ist bereits überholt'.
Because snow is highly visible when it falls but disappears completely when it melts, leaving no trace.
Yes, you can change the tense of the verb 'sein' to fit the context of your sentence.
Yes, it is universally understood in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
Related Phrases
Kalter Kaffee
synonymSomething that is no longer interesting or exciting.
Alte Kamellen
similarOld stories or jokes that everyone has heard before.
Schwamm drüber
builds onLet's forget about it / wipe the slate clean.
Von gestern sein
specialized formTo be old-fashioned or out of touch.
