wie die Faust aufs Auge passen
to clash badly - or, ironically, to fit perfectly (both senses are current)
Origin
Originally the expression expressed that something did not match at all - a punch in the eye is highly unpleasant. Through frequent ironic use the opposite, now equally common meaning of 'to fit very well' arose.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Participial clauses (reduced subordinate clauses)Partizipialsätze (verkürzte Nebensätze)
- Absolute accusative and free adjunctsAbsoluter Akkusativ und freie Angaben
- Genitive preposition 'mittels' (by means of)Genitivpräposition 'mittels'
- Recipient passive (bekommen/kriegen passive)Rezipientenpassiv (bekommen/kriegen-Passiv)
- Concessive connector 'obschon' (although)Konzessivkonnektor 'obschon'
- Adversative and restrictive connectors (elevated)Konnektoren des Gegensatzes und der Einschränkung (gehoben)
Examples
Die rote und das grüne wie die aufs .
The red tie and the green shirt clash horribly (or, ironically, go together perfectly).