Butter bei die Fische

German Etymology butter with the fish (plural). Compare nl boter bij de vis (with a similar, but not entirely identical meaning). The idiom is grammatically peculiar because it uses the accusative case (die Fische) with the preposition bei, which is incorrect by contemporary standard rules. The phrase is from a de nds-de - source. In many High and Low German dialects the word for by can express location (with dative) but also movement (with accusative). Compare other German prepositions varying between dative and accusative in the same way, e.g. de in, de auf, etc. Pronunciation de De-Butter bei die Fische.ogg <<Germany>> (<<Berlin>>) Noun de noun f de Germany idiomatic informal talking turkey, cutting to the chase request for honesty, frankness, and straightforwardness de Jetzt mal Butter bei die Fische: Hast du's gemacht oder nicht? Now be honest: did you do it or not? de Germany idiomatic informal rolling up one's sleeves, getting down to brass tacks request for honest effort, extra effort, all or nothing de Kommt, Jungs! Gebt mal bisschen Butter bei die Fische und wir gewinnen das Spiel! Come on, guys! Give it a little extra effort and we'll win the match! Further reading