How do you say “Get something off your chest” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is Sich etwas von der Seele reden, which literally means “To talk something off one’s soul”. English speakers use get something off your chest to mean to talk about something that has been worrying or upsetting you. A natural idiom for talking about something troubling and feeling relieved. It is informal and common in everyday German.
Closest natural German
Sich etwas von der Seele reden
/zɪç ˈɛtvas fɔn deːɐ̯ ˈzeːlə ˈʁeːdn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “To talk something off one’s soul”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Near-exact equivalent
94 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
English removes a weight from the chest. German talks something off the soul.
Both expressions make speaking feel like a release. The German can sound a little more emotional, especially when the worry has been kept inside for a long time.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone5 out of 5
- Context5 out of 5
- Literal similarity2 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
Sich aussprechen
Literally: “To speak oneself out”
Use for talking openly, often with someone involved.
Seinem Ärger Luft machen
Literally: “To give air to one’s anger”
Use specifically for letting out frustration or anger.
Don't translate it literally
Etwas von seiner Brust bekommen
This copies the body image without expressing relief through talking.
Word-for-word versions like these are understood as literal statements in German, not as expressions.
In context
English
I need to get something off my chest.
German
Ich muss mir etwas von der Seele reden.
English
She finally got her worries off her chest.
German
Sie hat sich endlich ihre Sorgen von der Seele geredet.
Related expressions
- What “Get something off your chest” means in English
- Spill the beans, To give away a secret.
- Clear the air, Talk openly to reduce tension.
Last reviewed 2026-09-12