A2Nature

Gegen Windmühlen kämpfen

To fight against imaginary enemies or insurmountable, often self-created, problems; to tilt at windmills

In German

Gegen Windmühlen kämpfen

GAY-gen VINT-mü-len KEMP-fen

Literal Translation

To fight against windmills

Meaning

To fight against imaginary enemies or insurmountable, often self-created, problems; to tilt at windmills.

Equivalent:"To tilt at windmills"

Origin:This idiom originates from Miguel de Cervantes' novel 'Don Quixote', where the protagonist famously attacks windmills, mistaking them for giants.

Example Sentences

1
Du kämpfst gegen Windmühlen, diese Bürokratie ist unbesiegbar.
You're fighting windmills, this bureaucracy is unbeatable.
2
Seine Bemühungen, das System zu ändern, waren wie ein Kampf gegen Windmühlen.
His efforts to change the system were like tilting at windmills.

FAQ

How do you say "To fight against imaginary enemies or insurmountable, often self-created, problems; to tilt at windmills" in German?

"To fight against imaginary enemies or insurmountable, often self-created, problems; to tilt at windmills" in German is "Gegen Windmühlen kämpfen" (GAY-gen VINT-mü-len KEMP-fen). Example: Du kämpfst gegen Windmühlen, diese Bürokratie ist unbesiegbar..

To be extremely happy or in love; to be in seventh heaven

Auf Wolke sieben schweben

Auf VOL-keh ZEE-ben SHVAY-ben

To act contrary to prevailing opinion or trends; to go against the grain

Gegen den Strom schwimmen

GAY-gen den SHTROM SHVIM-men

In a remote, desolate, or isolated place

Wo sich Fuchs und Hase gute Nacht sagen

Voh zikh FUKS unt HAH-zeh GOO-teh NAKHT ZAH-gen

To start a chain reaction of events, often negative and difficult to stop

Eine Lawine lostreten

Ay-neh lah-VEE-neh LOS-tray-ten