das Blaue vom Himmel versprechen
to promise the moon; to make impossible promises
Origin
The "blue" of the sky stands for the unattainable, which one can see but never seize. Already attested in the 17th/18th c. as an image for empty promises (a common expression in Claudius, 1794).
Building blocks
Words in this expression
gern· gladlyder Himmel· skyder Politiker· politicianversprechen· to promisevom· from theder Wahlkampf· election campaign
Grammar that uses this word
- Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Adjective endings in the dativeAdjektivendungen im Dativ
- Future I with 'werden' + infinitiveFutur I mit 'werden' + Infinitiv
- anderer / andere / anderes (other, another)anderer / andere / anderes (ander-)
- 'werden' as a full verb (to become)'werden' als Vollverb (etwas werden)
- Local preposition 'über' (above, Wo?/where? + dative)Lokale Präposition 'über' (Wo? + Dativ)
Examples
Im das Blaue .
During campaigns politicians like to promise the moon.