A2Daily
Den Teufel an die Wand malen
In German
Den Teufel an die Wand malen
den TOY-fel an dee VAHNT MAH-len
🇬🇧 English
🇪🇸 Español
🇮🇹 Italiano
📖 Literal Translation
To paint the devil on the wall
💡 Meaning
To paint a grim picture, to catastrophize, to imagine the worst-case scenario.
🌍 Equivalent:"To paint a grim picture; To catastrophize"
📜 Origin:From the superstition that if you portray something evil (like the devil), you might invoke it or make it happen. Thus, warning against excessive pessimism.
Example Sentences
1
Rede nicht so negativ, du malst ja den Teufel an die Wand!
Don't talk so negatively, you're painting a grim picture!
2
Man sollte nicht immer gleich den Teufel an die Wand malen, es gibt auch gute Seiten.
One shouldn't always imagine the worst-case scenario; there are good sides too.