die Nase voll haben
to be fed up; to have had enough
Origin
Origin not fully certain; very likely from criminals'/prison slang, where inmates got their "nose filled" (a beating) as punishment. Alongside it sits the image of a nose blocked by a cold.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Reflexive verbs with the dativeReflexive Verben mit Dativ
- Comparison of equality with 'so … wie' (as … as)Vergleich mit so … wie
- Temporal clause with 'seit(dem)' (since a starting point)Temporalsatz mit 'seit(dem)'
- Genitive preposition 'während' (during)Genitivpräposition 'während'
- Conjunctional adverbs: trotzdem, deshalb, deswegen (inversion)Konjunktionaladverbien: trotzdem, deshalb, deswegen (Inversion)
Examples
Ich habe die von seinen ständigen Ausreden.
I'm fed up with his constant excuses.