der Bär
bear
A large, strong mammal with thick fur that occurs in various species worldwide.
EXAMPLE
Im Nationalpark haben wir einen Bären aus sicherer Entfernung beobachtet.
In the national park, we observed a bear from a safe distance.
der Bär
bear
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Meanings
jemandem einen Bären aufbinden
to pull someone's leg
An idiom meaning to tell someone a lie or a made-up story in order to deceive them.
EXAMPLE
Glaub ihm nicht, er will dir nur einen Bären aufbinden.
Don't believe him, he just wants to pull your leg.
da ist der Bär los
the place is buzzing
A colloquial idiom expressing that a lot is going on in a place, that there is a lively atmosphere, or that there is a lot of hustle and bustle.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Stadtfest war gestern Abend richtig der Bär los.
At the town festival yesterday evening, the place was really buzzing.
der Bär
bear of a man
A figurative term for a large, strong, and often very hairy man.
EXAMPLE
Er ist ein Bär von einem Kerl, aber sehr sanftmütig.
He is a bear of a guy, but very gentle.
Usage tips
Common mistake: N-declension
'Der Bär' (the bear) is a noun that follows N-declension. This means that it gets an '-en' ending in all cases except the nominative singular. This mistake is made very often.
EXAMPLE
Ich sehe den Bären. (Akkusativ)
I see the bear. (accusative)
Word family
The very common adjective 'bärenstark' is derived from 'Bären' (bears). It literally means 'strong as a bear' and is used to describe great strength.
EXAMPLE
Mein Opa ist mit 80 Jahren immer noch bärenstark.
My grandpa is still incredibly strong at 80.
Dative construction
In the idiom 'jemandem einen Bären aufbinden' (to pull someone's leg), the person being deceived is always in the dative. The structure is fixed.
EXAMPLE
Er hat mir erzählt, er sei ein Popstar. Ich glaube, er wollte mir nur einen Bären aufbinden.
He told me he was a pop star. I think he just wanted to pull my leg.
Register: colloquial language
The idiom 'da ist der Bär los' (the place is buzzing) belongs to colloquial language. You use it to say that there is a great atmosphere and a lot of hustle and bustle at a party, festival, or place.
EXAMPLE
Komm zur Party, hier ist der Bär los!
Come to the party, the place is buzzing here!
Usage pattern
To describe a man as large and strong, people often use the fixed structure 'ein Bär von einem Mann' (a bear of a man) or 'ein Bär von einem Kerl' (a bear of a guy).
EXAMPLE
Der neue Türsteher ist ein Bär von einem Mann.
The new bouncer is a bear of a man.
Compare with
Bär vs Post
mail / post office
The expressions „die Post geht ab“ and „der Bär ist los“ both describe a lively, exuberant situation. „Die Post geht ab“ often emphasizes the exciting atmosphere or the wild action, while „der Bär ist los“ focuses more on the fact that there is a lot of hustle and bustle in a particular place.
Bär
Auf der Feier ist heute richtig der Bär los.
The party is really buzzing today.
Post
Auf der Feier geht heute richtig die Post ab.
The party is really lively today.
In real life
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