jumping jack / puppet
der Hampelmann, die Hampelmänner
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jumping jack toy
A toy figure with movable arms and legs that can be moved by pulling a string.
Wenn du an der Schnur ziehst, hebt der Hampelmann gleichzeitig die Arme und Beine.
When you pull the string, the jumping jack toy raises its arms and legs at the same time.
jumping jack
An exercise in which you repeatedly jump between two positions: legs apart with arms overhead, and legs together with arms at your sides.
Zum Aufwärmen machen wir zwanzig Hampelmänner.
To warm up, we do twenty jumping jacks.
puppet
A derogatory term for someone who shows no will of their own and lets others control or use them however they please.
Der Vorsitzende ist nur ein Hampelmann, der alle Anweisungen seiner Geldgeber befolgt.
The chairman is just a puppet who follows every instruction from his financial backers.
to embarrass oneself
To make yourself look ridiculous through your behavior, especially by making excessive efforts for others or complying with their absurd demands. This expression is colloquial.
Ich mache mich doch nicht zum Hampelmann und tanze vor allen auf dem Tisch, nur weil du das lustig findest!
I'm not going to embarrass myself by dancing on the table in front of everyone just because you think it's funny!
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Hampelmänner |
| genitive | des Hampelmanns |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Hampelmann | die Hampelmänner |
| accusative | den Hampelmann | die Hampelmänner |
| dative | dem Hampelmann | den Hampelmännern |
| genitive | des Hampelmanns des Hampelmannes | der Hampelmänner |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Hampelmann' (jumping jack / puppet) is related to the verb 'hampeln' (to fidget or move about awkwardly). The component 'Mann' (man) refers to the human figure that moves in the toy or the exercise.
Vor Aufregung hampelte das Kind herum wie ein Hampelmann.
The child was so excited that they flailed about like a jumping jack toy.
You can often tell from the context whether 'Hampelmann' (jumping jack / puppet) is meant literally or as an insult: references to strings, arms, legs, or jumping suggest a toy figure or an exercise; references to politics, instructions, or a lack of independent will suggest a person.
Im Sportunterricht machten die Kinder Hampelmänner, während der Politiker als Hampelmann seiner Berater kritisiert wurde.
In PE class, the children did jumping jacks, while the politician was criticized as a puppet of his advisers.
When referring to the toy figure, the focus is often on the string and the movement. Typical phrases include 'an der Schnur des Hampelmanns ziehen' (to pull the jumping jack toy's string), 'ein Hampelmann aus Holz' (a wooden jumping jack toy), and 'den Hampelmann tanzen lassen' (to make the jumping jack toy dance).
Opa schnitzte einen Hampelmann aus Holz und ließ ihn für die Enkel tanzen.
Grandpa carved a jumping jack toy out of wood and made it dance for his grandchildren.
For the exercise, 'Hampelmänner' (jumping jacks) is often used with a number or with verbs such as 'machen' (to do) and 'springen' (to jump). The exercise is often used as a warm-up or a short burst of physical activity.
Vor dem Lauf sprangen wir eine Minute lang Hampelmänner.
Before the run, we did jumping jacks for a minute.
In 'sich zum Hampelmann machen' (to embarrass oneself), the reflexive pronoun referring to the person concerned is in the accusative; 'zum' is a contraction of 'zu dem'. This colloquial expression is often used with a negative or with 'lassen' (to let) when refusing to be made to look ridiculous.
Vor den Gästen lasse ich mich doch nicht zum Hampelmann machen.
I'm certainly not going to let anyone make a fool of me in front of the guests.
