sich etwas hinter die Ohren schreiben
to take something firmly to heart and remember it well
Origin
The phrase goes back to an old legal custom: at important agreements, children were brought along as future witnesses and pulled by the ears at the spot so they would remember the matter for life.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Indefinite pronoun 'etwas' (something)Indefinitpronomen 'etwas'
- Indefinite pronoun 'jemand' (someone)Indefinitpronomen 'jemand'
- Indefinite pronoun 'niemand' (no one)Indefinitpronomen 'niemand'
- Conjunctional adverb 'trotzdem' (nevertheless)Konjunktionaladverb 'trotzdem'
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
Examples
Sei das pünktlicher – das kannst du dir die Ohren !
Be more punctual next time — and mark my words!