The idea
The idiom is “jemandem die Daumen drücken”: dative person, accusative die Daumen. You can add für + accusative or bei + dative for the occasion. “Ich drück dir die Daumen” is the spoken short form, and with Sie it becomes “Ich drücke Ihnen die Daumen”. The passive-like “Meine Daumen sind gedrückt” is a playful variant. Hoffentlich, at the start of a sentence, means “let us hope that”, and “Es klappt mit …” is casual for something working out.
Other ways to say it
“Ich drück dir die Daumen!” – Casual spoken form; the most common version among friends.
“Ich drücke Ihnen die Daumen für das Gespräch.” – Polite Sie version; fine for colleagues or acquaintances.
“Hoffentlich klappt alles!” – Neutral and short; a hope without the idiom.
Examples
- Ich drücke dir für die Zusage beide Daumen.I am keeping my fingers crossed for the acceptance.
- Morgen soll die Entscheidung kommen.The decision is supposed to come tomorrow.
- Hoffentlich klappt es mit deinem Wunschplatz.Hopefully you will get your preferred place.
- Ich versuche, bis dahin geduldig zu bleiben.I am trying to stay patient until then.
- Meine Daumen sind gedrückt, ohne dass ich etwas versprechen kann.I am keeping my fingers crossed without being able to promise anything.
- Danke, die Unterstützung freut mich.Thanks; I appreciate the support.
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Watch out
“Ich kreuze meine Finger für dich.” → “Ich drücke dir die Daumen.”: Crossing your fingers is the English gesture. German speakers press their thumbs, so a literal translation sounds foreign and may not be understood as a wish.
Try it yourself
Translate into German: I am keeping my fingers crossed for the acceptance.
Show answer or example answer
Ich drücke dir für die Zusage beide Daumen.
Dir is the dative person, beide Daumen the accusative object, and “für die Zusage” the hoped-for result. The object comes last for emphasis.
Put the words in order: deinem / es / Hoffentlich / klappt / mit / Wunschplatz
Show answer or example answer
Hoffentlich klappt es mit deinem Wunschplatz.
Hoffentlich occupies first position, so klappt comes second. “Es klappt mit” is casual; es is dropped here because hoffentlich fills the first slot.
Write this sentence in German: Thanks; I appreciate the support.
Show answer or example answer
Danke, die Unterstützung freut mich.
Freuen is used with the thing as subject: die Unterstützung freut mich, “the support pleases me”. It sounds a little more reserved than “Ich freue mich”.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Translate into German: I am keeping my fingers crossed for the acceptance.
Ich drücke dir für die Zusage beide Daumen.
Put the words in order: deinem / es / Hoffentlich / klappt / mit / Wunschplatz
Hoffentlich klappt es mit deinem Wunschplatz.
Write this sentence in German: Thanks; I appreciate the support.
Danke, die Unterstützung freut mich.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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A friend is waiting to hear about a flat she applied for. Send her a message that uses jemandem die Daumen drücken and one sentence with hoffentlich.