der Zeh
toe
One of the five movable digits at the front end of the foot in humans and many animals.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir den kleinen Zeh am Stuhlbein gestoßen.
I stubbed my little toe on the chair leg.
der Zeh
toe
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Meanings
jemandem auf die Zehen treten
to step on someone's toes
To unintentionally offend or annoy someone, or harm their interests, through a remark or action.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner direkten Kritik ist er wohl einigen Kollegen auf die Zehen getreten.
With his direct criticism, he probably stepped on some colleagues' toes.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
Common verbs in connection with 'Zeh' (toe) describe minor accidents or movements. Typical phrases are 'sich den Zeh stoßen' (to stub one's toe), 'sich den Zeh brechen' (to break one's toe), or 'auf den Zehenspitzen gehen' (to walk on tiptoe).
EXAMPLE
Sei leise, die Kinder schlafen schon. Wir müssen auf Zehenspitzen gehen.
Be quiet, the children are already asleep. We have to walk on tiptoe.
Specific toes
As in English, German also distinguishes between the 'großen Zeh' (big toe) and the 'kleinen Zeh' (little toe) to differentiate them from the others.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich beim Wandern am großen Zeh verletzt.
He injured his big toe while hiking.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemandem auf die Zehen treten' (to step on someone's toes) is fixed. The person you annoy is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht mit dieser Bemerkung, damit trittst du deinem Chef auf die Zehen.
Be careful with that remark; you'll step on your boss's toes with it.
Compare with
Zeh vs Fuß
foot
Both jemandem auf die Füße treten and jemandem auf die Zehen treten can mean annoying someone or infringing on their interests. Fuß and Zeh are parts of their own fixed expressions here; the choice usually does not change the core meaning.
Zeh
Mit seiner scharfen Kritik ist er der Kollegin auf die Zehen getreten.
His sharp criticism offended his colleague.
Fuß
Mit seiner scharfen Kritik ist er der Kollegin auf die Füße getreten.
His sharp criticism offended his colleague.
In real life
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