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Beleidigte Leberwurst

Learn a funny, quirky German word each week with DW's Word of the Week feature. This week: Beleidigte Leberwurst.

https://p.dw.com/p/RlVG
Image: picture-alliance / KPA/Zeller, Renate

Regardless of how you feel about eating liverwurst ("Leberwurst"), you have to admit: It does look rather pathetic. It's pale, mushy and droopy and seems a fitting metaphor for someone who chooses to sulk or pout for no reason. But the expression "offended liverwurst" ("beleidigte Leberwurst") probably has nothing to do with sausage at all. Rather, in the Middle Ages, the liver was commonly believed to have a close connection to people's temperaments. This medical fallacy endured for centuries and "Wurst" was likely added to the expression later on, putting a whole new spin on it.