It’s raining cats and dogs

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

“It’s raining cats and dogs” – this idiom is probably the best-known idiom and simply means that it is raining a lot. The English idiom “it is raining cats and dogs“, used to describe particularly heavy rain, is of unknown etymology and is not necessarily related to the raining animals phenomenon. The phrase has been used at least since the 17th century. We don’t know. The phrase might have its roots in Norse mythology, medieval superstitions, the obsolete word, ‘catadupe’ (waterfall), or dead animals in the streets of Britain being picked up by storm waters. The first recorded use of a phrase similar to “raining cats and dogs” was in the 1651 collection of poems Olor Iscanus. British poet Henry Vaughan referred to a roof that was secure against, “dogs and cats rained in shower.” One year later, Richard Brome, an English playwright, wrote in his comedy City Witt, “It shall rain dogs and polecats.” (Polecats (der Iltis) are related to the weasel (Wiesel) and were common in Great Britain through the end of the nineteenth century.)

NOTE: A flash flood – Eine Sturzflut – to be flushed down the road – die Straße hinuntergespült werden

 

Special English Word: etymology /ˌɛtɪˈmɒlədʒi/ noun: etymology

 

Special words: Besondere Worte:

Kafuffle noun. /kəˈfʌfl/ /kərˈfʌfl/ [singular] (British English, informal) ​unnecessary excitement or activity synonym commotion, fuss. a disturbance or commotion typically caused by a dispute or conflict In all the kerfuffle, nobody seemed to have noticed Harry, which suited him perfectly.

The root of “kerfuffle” is the very old Scots verb “fuffle,” which first appeared in print in the early 16th century and means “to throw into disorder.” The Oxford English Dictionary suggests that the “ker” part of “kerfuffle” may have come from the Gaelic word “car,” meaning “to twist, bend or turn around.”

 

Note: I wonder if you know who these two famous actors are? On the left is Jack Lemmon, and the other is Walter Matthau. They starred in several films together. For example: ‘Grumpy Old Men‘ (One and Two), as well as, ‘The Odd Couple‘.

 

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

Overtime

Part-time work

Full-time work

Law English Word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

Local authority (ies)

Arbitrator

Alien (X2)

Foreigner.

 

Vocabulary of Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

BSI
The British Standards Institution. The national standards body in the UK, brings together suppliers and users (including the government) to draw up standards. These are numbered as identified by the prefix ‘BS’.

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

A word/phrase for negotiations = pay package – Bezahlpaket – Gehaltspaket /Lohnpaket. 

Sample Sentence:

“A ‘pay package’ refers to the total compensation an employee receives from their employer, including not just their salary, but other benefits which may be offered. This may include areas such as: health insurance, dental scheme, retirement plans, paid time off, and other so-called, ‘perks‘ of the job.“

NOTE: The meaning of the word Perks is discussed in a later Blog.

Wit, Wit, Wit Business examples:

Witz, Witz, Witz Geschäftsbeispiele:

“An economist is a man who states the obvious in terms of the incomprehensible.”

Quote by Alfred Knopf.

 

Bike Lock – an alternative…..

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Translate the Text: Übersetzen:

Susann, Andreas, Nadine, Heike, Reiner, and Simone.

Meine Katze ist weiß.

Unsere Katze ist schwarz und weiß.

Unser Nachbar ist sehr leise.

Unser Wein ist weiß und unser Kaffee ist schwarz.

Meine Katze ist schwarz und leibt Orangen.

Unser Hund ist schwarz und unsere Katze ist weiß.

Unser Nachbar heißt Duo, er spricht viele Sprachen.

Es ist nachts leise hier.

Unser Hund ist schwarz und sehr süß.

Meine Katze ist nachts wirklich leise.

Mein Nachbar kommt aus Bonn.

Meine Nachbarin ist eine Hexe und sie kocht gut.

Ich mag die Nachbarin.

Unsere Nachbarin ist nett und sie hat eine Katze.

Der Nachbar ist nie zu Hause.

Die Vase.

Hast du eine Vase für die Blumen?

Hast du einen Kaffeetisch für das Wohnzimmer?

Wir brauchen ein Regal für die Bücher.

Mein Sofa ist sehr bequem.

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Special Coffee Vocab!

English – English – English – English – English – English – English

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

Valve – Ventil

Sample Sentence:

“In engineering, a valve is a mechanical device used to control the flow of fluids (for example, gases, liquids etc.) in a piping system or other enclosure. It does this by opening, closing, or partially obstructing a passageway, thereby directing, regulating, or isolating the flow. Valves are essential components in various engineering applications, including industrial processes, heating and cooling systems, and fluid systems.”

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

“To have to walk on eggshells around someone.”  

Sample Sentence:

The Phrase “Walking on eggshells” means that one has to be extremely cautious and careful when you are in close contact with a certain person or people. This could be when you are dealing with a sensitive person or situation. You do not wish to offend or be at risk of upsetting them. It implies a delicate and potentially fragile state where one must be very careful not to make a mistake that could have negative consequences.

 

British English / American English Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English (B.E.) = Film

American English (A.E.) = Movie

Sample Sentences:

“I would love to watch a film on TV tonight.” (B.E.)

“Heh, Honey, let’s go to the movies tomorrow night!” (A.E.)

NOTE: It is becoming more popular in the UK to say, “Movie“. I hear the word Movie quite often on Sky News. However, I would never use it. Film is the correct word for someone who is English.

 

Special Grammar Tip of the Week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

“I don’t hear of that that often.”

 

Pronunciation tip: Aussprachetipp:

EI del ly = Idily

So we will practice this in our lesson.

 

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

German                    = Bild

Translation              = Picture/image/photo

False Friend (F.F.)   = Build

Meaning of F.F.        = Bauen

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

Slang word of the day:

Slangwort des Tages:

Botch – mess up, ruin; as in “the electrician botched the repair.“

Sample Sentence:

“The guys who painted the outside of our house made a right botched job of it, that bloody Udo, what a wanker!!!”

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

Boyo – Welsh slang for mate, friend.

 

Cockney Rhyming Slang:

Cockney Reimender Slang:

Boozer – means a pub, or a person who drinks a lot.

Sample Sentences:

“I’m goin’ down the Boozer tonight luv to have a rav up with some of the lads.”

“That Winston, ‘e ‘alf were some heavy Boozer I can tell you!”

NOTE: I will more often than not say the word pub, but sometimes I may also say Boozer.

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

“Borrow money from pessimists — they don’t expect it back.”

Quote by Steven Wright

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English – English – English – English – English – English – English

 

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