/ˈkaɪ̯nən ˈblasn̩ ˈʃɪmɐ ˈhaːbn̩/ lit. ‘to not have a pale glimmer’
German idiom, colloquial. To have no idea at all.
Draft Not yet checked by a native German speaker.
How do people use Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
?
Colloquial and very common, a shrugging answer to a question: “Keinen blassen Schimmer!” The topic follows with “von” or “davon”: “Davon habe ich keinen blassen Schimmer.” The superlative “nicht den blassesten Schimmer” makes it stronger.
Also said nicht den blassesten Schimmer haben, keinen Schimmer haben
Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
in real sentences
-
Ich habe keinen blassen Schimmer.
I don’t have a clue.
Tatoeba, sentence by Sudajaengi, translation by CM, CC BY 2.0 FR
-
Davon hat er keinen blassen Schimmer.
He hasn’t got the foggiest.
Tatoeba, sentence by Esperantostern, translation by niceguydave, CC BY 2.0 FR
Where does Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
come from?
German Wiktionary offers a likely reading: if light stands for an idea, a “Schimmer” is the faintest possible light, and this one is pale on top, yet even that is missing. It also mentions a link to the “Schimmerbuch”, an etiquette book in student fraternities, without dating either.
Mistakes learners make with Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
Confusing “Schimmer” (glimmer) with “Schimmel” (mold): “keinen blassen Schimmel” is a common slip that makes it about mildew.
Other German idioms like Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
Spot a mistake in Keinen blassen Schimmer haben
?
Send a correction, or a sentence you’d actually say with it. Everything is read before anything on this page changes.