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
- Verb 'sein' (to be), present: sie/Sie sind (they/you are)Verb 'sein' im Präsens: sie/Sie sind
- Definite article 'der' (the, masculine, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'der' (maskulin, Nominativ)
- Definite article 'die' (the, plural, nominative)Bestimmter Artikel 'die' (Plural, Nominativ)
- Simple past of 'sein': sie/Sie waren (they/you were)Präteritum von 'sein': sie/Sie waren
Examples
Ich habe die von seinen ständigen Ausreden.
I'm fed up with his constant excuses.