die Radieschen von unten betrachten
to be dead and buried; to push up the daisies (jocular)
Origin
The origin is not firmly established; the expression is relatively recent. It is often attributed to soldiers of the First World War who tried to suppress dying with gallows humour - the image refers to lying beneath the soil, where radishes take root.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Inversion for emphasis and frontingInversion zur Emphase und Spitzenstellung
Examples
Wenn ich so weitermache, betrachte ich die von .
If I carry on like this, I'll soon be pushing up the daisies.