How do you say “Put your foot down” in German?
The closest natural German equivalent is ein Machtwort sprechen, which literally means “to speak a word of authority”. English speakers use put your foot down to mean to insist firmly on a decision or refuse to allow something to continue. Best for a parent or manager ending an argument, rather than a quiet personal refusal. Register: informal. Usage frequency: common.
Closest natural German
ein Machtwort sprechen
/aɪn ˈmaxtvɔʁt ˈʃpʁɛçn̩/
- Literal meaning
- “to speak a word of authority”
- Register
- informal
- How often it's used
- common
- Equivalence
Close equivalent
88 out of 100
What a native German speaker would actually say
“Ein Machtwort sprechen” suits someone whose firm decision can end an argument, such as a parent or manager.
For a personal refusal, “eine klare Grenze setzen” may be closer. The driving meaning of “put your foot down” is different: use “Gas geben” when someone accelerates.
How close is the meaning?
- Meaning5 out of 5
- Tone4 out of 5
- Context4 out of 5
- Literal similarity1 out of 5
These ratings are editorial approximations, not measurements.
What are other ways to say it in German?
eine klare Grenze setzen
Literally: “to set a clear boundary”
Best for personal limits without claiming authority over others.
darauf bestehen
Literally: “to insist on it”
Neutral wording for a firm demand.
In context
English
After another argument, their mother put her foot down.
German
Nach einem weiteren Streit sprach ihre Mutter ein Machtwort.
English
I put my foot down: no work emails on holiday.
German
Ich habe eine klare Grenze gesetzt: keine Arbeits-E-Mails im Urlaub.
Related expressions
- What “Put your foot down” means in English
- Take the bull by the horns, Face a difficult situation directly and boldly.
- Give someone a piece of your mind, Tell someone angrily what you think of them.
Last updated 2026-09-16