April 10, 2025 4:09 AM PDT
The German idiom "Bock haben auf" literally translates to “to have a goat on,” but idiomatically, it means “to be up for something” or “to feel like doing something.” It’s used to express interest or excitement about an activity. For example, “Ich habe Bock auf Pizza” means “I feel like having pizza.”
While the exact origin is unclear, “Bock” in slang terms has come to represent desire or motivation. Interestingly, in contrast, “kein Bock haben” means “to not feel like it” or “to have no interest.” So, it’s a versatile idiom that can swing both ways depending on the context.
Among
German idioms, this one is particularly common among young people and in casual speech. It’s easy to use, short, and expressive, which makes it a staple of everyday German. Understanding idioms like this is key to sounding more natural and fluent when speaking the language.