I don't understand anything...
Status: 06.02.25
There are many idioms in everyday life. Some are known throughout Germany, others are regional. But even if the meaning is known, many people don't know where our idioms actually come from.
To make sure you don't just understand the station, we have five idioms for you that come from public transport!
Driving on two tracks
It is quite obvious where the phrase "two-track travelling" might come from. If you are travelling on two tracks, you are pursuing several paths or keeping several options open in order to reach a goal. This idiom is often found in cheating.
However, the origin is harmless. Double track simply means that there are two tracks on a route that run parallel to each other. This can increase the efficiency of a line.
Landing on the siding
If you end up on the siding, you have been excluded from your position or from a group. In public transport, however, a siding does not mean that a train or railway has been completely withdrawn from service. Vehicles that are not currently in use are also in the sidings, waiting for their next assignment.
Riding a free rider
A free rider is a person who wants to profit from something without making any effort of their own. In other words, they use the work of others to gain advantages for themselves. The term comes from the time when trains and trams still had running boards on the doors and travelled much slower than today. If someone wanted to save money on the journey, they would jump on the running board while travelling.
An old man/an old woman is not a D-train!
Anyone who claims not to be a D train is humorously signalling that you shouldn't rush. D-trains are the predecessors of InterCity and InterRegios. Until the early 1990s, Deutsche Bahn labelled its express trains with a D. The D stood for Durchgangszug (through train). In the past, it was not normal to be able to simply pass from one carriage to another.
Going the extra mile
If you go the extra mile, you increase your own performance. This saying probably dates back to the days of steam locomotives. These did not run on electricity or diesel, but were fuelled by coal or similar fuels. There was a shovel with which the coal could be taken out of the container. If you wanted the locomotive to travel faster, you had to add a shovelful of coal.
