April Fools’ Day

April Fools’ Day

‘April Fools’ Day’— is celebrated on the first of April every year. It has been celebrated for several centuries by different cultures, though its exact origins remain a mystery. April Fools’ Day traditions include playing hoaxes or practical jokes on others, often yelling “April Fools!” at the end to clue in the subject of the ‘April Fools’ Day prank’. While its exact history is shrouded in mystery, the embrace of ‘April Fools’ Day jokes’ by the media and major brands has ensured the unofficial holiday’s long life.

Origins of April Fools’ Day

Some historians speculate that ‘April Fools’ Day’ dates back to 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar, as called for by the Council of Trent in 1563. In the Julian Calendar, as in the Hindu calendar, the new year begins with the spring equinox around the first of April.

People who were slow to get the news or failed to recognize that the start of the new year had moved to the first of January and continued to celebrate it during the last week of March through the first of April became the butt of jokes and hoaxes and were called “April fools.” These pranks included having paper fish placed on their backs and being referred to as “poisson d’avril” (April fish), said to symbolize a young, easily caught fish and a gullible person (leichtgläubiger Mensch).

 

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

“To think outside the box”

This means to think of a solution that is different to what is normally done or to think of an unusual, creative solution to a problem.

Sample Sentence:

“We don’t have a lot of money to spend on our new website so we need to ‘think outside the box’ to find a way of reaching a lot of customers.”

 

Law English word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

“Innocent“

means: Not guilty of a crime.

Sample Sentence:

“He was found innocent by the court and was allowed to go home.“

“In life, no one is found innocent, we are all found guilty, but we can be found innocent by the one who was the only one in life to be totally and utterly innocent….” MIB 4th April 2022.

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

“Fulfil“

Carry out a promise or satisfy an agreement.

Sample Sentence:

“By signing this contract, you agree to fulfil all of the conditions which are listed.”

 

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

Sample Sentence:

“I like…., but I feel there are too many question marks around.”

 

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

Precisely means Genau in German.

Sample Sentence:

 “That is precisely what I mean.” (other meanings: Exactly, right, strictly, rigidly, just, specifically).

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

“Away you go!” means Mobile, it is an indication to ‘Start‘ (Los Geht’s – ‘Here we go‘). or away with you. An expression of disbelief or scepticism …

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

“You’re on a hiding to nothing” means slang – To be likely to fail; to be in a futile situation.

Sample Sentence:

“You’re on a hiding to nothing” if you think you’re going to get a rise out of the boss.

 

British (B.E.) / American (A.E.) Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English is ‘Goods Truck‘ (Lorry – Thomas 😀) ‘Freight Truck‘ (Lorry) – A.E.

 

Special Grammar tip of the week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

BTW after you write the ‘Salutation‘ e.g. Dear Mark, you start the next sentence with a ‘Captial letter‘ / ‘upper case letter‘  (Großbuchstabe) and not as you would write “thanks for your message”. I hope that you find this tip helpful

Dear Mark,

thanks for your e-mail = WRONG

Dear Mark,

Thanks for your e-mail. = RIGHT.

 

Pronunciation tip: Aussprachetipp:

Major, mare / Mayor pronunciation

 

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

False Friend: Male (männlich) and Mail (Post) Mehl (Flour, not flower = Blume).

 

Slang word of the day: Slangwort des Tages:

To live a “Bohemian Lifestyle” means Bohemianism is the practice of an unconventional lifestyle, often in the company of like-minded people and with few permanent ties. It involves musical, artistic, literary, or spiritual pursuits. In this context, Bohemians may be wanderers, adventurers, or vagabonds.

 

Wit, wit, wit – Drink and Other Drugs:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Trinken und andere Drogen:

“He’d had so much the night before before he was suddenly sick over the bride. The service continued while and then the groom was sick again, this time over the Vicar.” Quote by Jeffrey Bernard.

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

“Banter” – to jest means playful and friendly exchange of teasing remarks.

 

Cockney rhyming slang: Cockney Reimender Slang:

“Ball and Chalk“ = to go for a “walk“.

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

 “Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle”.

Angus Buchan’s book.