wie Zahnschmerzen

German

Etymology

Literally, “like toothache”.

Adverb

wie Zahnschmerzen

1. (colloquial, with a verb of loving, liking) not at all

   Das hab ich gern wie Zahnschmerzen.

   That’s a thing that I really can’t stand.

   (literally, “I love it like toothache.”)

   • 2017, Henning Brand, MTV-Handballer sorgen weiter für Furore, in: Website of Braunschweiger Zeitung

     „Die Überzahlregel liebe ich wie Zahnschmerzen“, kommentierte Trainer Volker Mudrow.

     “The power play rule [in handball] is something I love like toothache”, coach Volker Mudrow commented.

2. (colloquial, with a verb of hating, disliking) very much

Usage notes

• Predominantly with gern haben or lieben as above, but sometimes other verbs, e.g. mögen, hassen, etc.