groschen
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the penny dropped
An idiom meaning that someone finally understood something after thinking about it for a while.
Nachdem sie es mir zum dritten Mal erklärt hatte, ist bei mir endlich der Groschen gefallen.
After she had explained it to me for the third time, the penny finally dropped for me.
groschen
A former German coin that, before the introduction of the euro, usually had the value of ten pfennigs.
Mein Opa hat mir erzählt, dass eine Kugel Eis früher nur einen Groschen gekostet hat.
My grandpa told me that a scoop of ice cream used to cost only a groschen.
small amount
In a figurative sense, a symbol for a very small amount of money. Often used in phrases such as 'jeden Groschen umdrehen' (to watch every penny/be very frugal).
Seit er arbeitslos ist, muss er jeden Groschen zweimal umdrehen.
Since he became unemployed, he has had to watch every penny twice.
The idiom 'der Groschen ist gefallen' (the penny has dropped) means that someone finally understands something. The person who understands it is often expressed with 'bei' + dative (bei mir, bei dir, bei ihm).
Als ich die Grafik sah, ist bei mir endlich der Groschen gefallen.
When I saw the graph, the penny finally dropped for me.
The phrase 'jeden Groschen umdrehen' (to turn over every groschen/to watch every penny) means that you have to be very frugal and think carefully about every expense. Sometimes it is intensified with 'zweimal umdrehen' (to turn it over twice).
Während des Studiums musste ich jeden Groschen zweimal umdrehen.
During my studies, I had to watch every penny twice.
As a coin, the groschen is historical and is no longer used. This meaning appears almost only when talking about the time before the euro, often in a nostalgic tone.
Oma erzählt oft, dass ein Brot früher nur wenige Groschen gekostet hat.
Grandma often says that bread used to cost only a few groschen.
