Significado
To take a long time to understand or react to something.
Contexto cultural
In Germany, being 'slow' is often seen as a lack of efficiency, but this idiom is a socially acceptable way to admit it with a laugh. Austrians use the same idiom, often with a slightly softer pronunciation ('Leitung' sounds more like 'Leitung' with a melodic lilt). In Swiss German, you might hear 'e langi Leitig ha', which is the dialect version of the same idiom. In modern German startups, this phrase is used to humanize the high-pressure environment, acknowledging that everyone has 'off' days.
Use it for yourself
It's much safer and more charming to use this phrase about yourself than about others.
Gender matters
Always remember 'Leitung' is feminine. Saying 'einen langen Leitung' is a very common beginner mistake.
Significado
To take a long time to understand or react to something.
Use it for yourself
It's much safer and more charming to use this phrase about yourself than about others.
Gender matters
Always remember 'Leitung' is feminine. Saying 'einen langen Leitung' is a very common beginner mistake.
Teste-se
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Entschuldigung, ich habe heute eine ____ ____.
The standard idiom is 'eine lange Leitung haben'.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Wann sagt man: 'Ich habe eine lange Leitung'?
The idiom refers to slow mental processing, like catching a joke late.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Verstehst du, warum das lustig ist?' B: 'Nein... ach jetzt! Sorry, ich ____ ____ ____ ____.'
We use the verb 'haben' with this idiom.
Match the phrase to the meaning.
Match 'Eine lange Leitung haben' with its meaning.
It literally means having a long wire, figuratively being slow.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosEntschuldigung, ich habe heute eine ____ ____.
The standard idiom is 'eine lange Leitung haben'.
Wann sagt man: 'Ich habe eine lange Leitung'?
The idiom refers to slow mental processing, like catching a joke late.
A: 'Verstehst du, warum das lustig ist?' B: 'Nein... ach jetzt! Sorry, ich ____ ____ ____ ____.'
We use the verb 'haben' with this idiom.
Match 'Eine lange Leitung haben' with its meaning.
It literally means having a long wire, figuratively being slow.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
4 perguntasIt depends. About yourself, it's funny. About a close friend, it's teasing. About a stranger or boss, it's rude.
No, that sounds weird to Germans. Use 'langsames Internet' instead.
There isn't one perfect idiom, but you could say someone is 'hellwach' (wide awake/smart) or a 'Blitzmerker' (sarcastic).
Not necessarily. It usually refers to a temporary state of being slow, not a permanent lack of intelligence.
Frases relacionadas
auf der Leitung stehen
similarTo have a temporary mental block.
Der Groschen ist gefallen
contrastTo finally understand something.
Blitzmerker sein
contrastTo be a 'lightning-fast' perceiver (often used sarcastically).
Spätzünder
similarA late bloomer or someone who reacts late.
