wie ein Fisch im Wasser
in one's element; completely at ease and lively
Origin
Origin not reliably documented; the expression rests on the notion that a fish is especially lively and content in water - one rarely sees sick or sleeping fish, from which the impression of great vitality has crystallised.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Verb 'schmecken' (to taste good, + dative)Verb 'schmecken' (+ Dativ)
- Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Adjective declension after the indefinite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach unbestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Two-part connector 'weder … noch' (neither … nor)Zweiteiliger Konnektor 'weder … noch'
- Regular comparative (-er + als 'than')Komparativ regelmäßig (-er + als)
- Superlative (am …-sten)Superlativ (am …-sten)
Examples
Auf der bewegt sie sich wie ein im .
On stage she moves like a fish in water — completely in her element.