1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites

fuchsteufelswild

Learn a funny, quirky German word each week with DW's Word of the Week feature. This week: Fuchsteufelswild.

https://p.dw.com/p/Rlh0
Image: dpa

This fox looks quite calm and sweet. Still, foxes have a reputation for being sly, cunning. In the darkness of night, they may sneak into a farm and feast on the chickens without even stirring the farmer from his slumber. But should it get caught in a trap, the fox will thrash about wildly as it tries to escape. When the farmer rises in the morning and discovers the fox's handiwork, he will no doubt be "fuchsteufelswild." This German word is used to describe an enraged, infuriated person - someone as wild as a fox and mad as the devil.

Skip next section Explore more

Explore more