German phrase of the day: Hier steppt der Bär

Why do I need to know 'hier steppt der Bär'?

This cute German idiom is ideal to have up your sleeve when you're out and about with friends - and it can serve both as an ironic comment or a genuine expression of enthusiasm. 

What's more, it also happens to have a fascinating history that can tell you a little bit about life in medieval Germany. 

What does it mean?

Hier steppt der Bär quite literally means "the bear's tap-dancing here" - but as you might imagine, the phrase isn't used literally. 

Mostly, Germans will crack out this colloquialism to describe a truly buzzing celebration or a place with a great atmosphere, a bit like English speakers might say: "This party is bumping!" or "It's all happening here!". 

If you're at a fun birthday party or a lively wedding reception, this might be a good time to call to mind the steppender Bär. But you might also use it to describe an especially vibrant neighbourhood or part of the city that's full of cafes, bars and exciting events to go to.

READ ALSO: German phrase of the day - Jetzt haben wir den Salat

A bit like its English equivalents, hier steppt der Bär can also be very funny when used ironically.

Heading into a sad and empty dive bar on a Tuesday night, you might use it in a sarcastic tone to describe exactly what's not going on in your chosen drinking venue. Or you might invoke the image of the dancing bear in a tourist town that's completely dead in the winter, where only the faint echoes of dancing bear-paws remain.

Where does it come from?

Of course, tap-dancing bears aren't something you see much of these days, and the phrase actually dates all the way back to medieval times.

For many people in those days, life was a hard daily grind, defined by poverty, insufficient food and shelter, and hard labour. 

Every so often, however, a travelling circus or an annual market would bring the beloved Tanzbären - or dancing bears - to town. These were real bears who had been taught to perform tricks and dance along to live music to entertain the crowds. 

The sight of the magnificent tap-dancing animals thrilled the medieval audiences, and would excite the crowd to such an extent that they would laugh, applaud and boogie along with the bears. 

In other words: da hat der Bär ordentlich gesteppt! (The bear was really dancing there!)

That's why, to this day, Germans still associate the image of a tap-dancing bear with a fun and celebratory atmosphere. 

Use it like this:

Die Party am Samstag war mega cool - es steppte wirklich der Bär! 

The party on Saturday was mega cool - there was a really great atmosphere!

Berlin ist eine verrückte Stadt. Da steppt immer der Bär!

Berlin is a crazy city. There's always something going on!