etwas auf dem Kasten haben
to have a lot on the ball; to be clever
Origin
"Kasten" (box) here stands for the head, in which the mind sits; people spoke of the "brain-box" being filled with knowledge. (The precise origin is explained in various ways.)
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Regular verbs: sie/Sie-form (stem + -en)Regelmäßige Verben: sie/Sie-Form (Stamm + -en)
- Modal verb 'wollen' (to want)Modalverb 'wollen'
- Imperative: Sie-form (Kommen Sie!)Imperativ: Sie-Form (Kommen Sie!)
- Present perfect with 'sein': er/sie/es ist … (participle)Perfekt mit 'sein': er/sie/es ist … Partizip II
Examples
Die neue hat was auf dem .
The new colleague really has a lot on the ball.