The English Slang word Piffle means nonsense. The American slang Garbage; and there are quite a number of other English and American slang words for Piffle.
Sample Sentence:
“It’s absolutepiffle to suggest that politicians tell the truth.”
“I call it Jeremy.”
NOTE: Business English etc.
can be found below the translation exercises.
Target (Das Ziel, Das Soll, Die Zeilschiebe), aim, goal, objective, intention = these words mean more or less the same thing.
Sample Sentence:
“I have to meet my monthly target or else I may lose my job!” (Target can also be used in warfare – pointing a weapon at something)
“The aim of this game is to get your opponent’s King in check = checkmate and then the game is over. It’s called Chess.”
“Whilst playing football last night I scored a hattrick of goals.”
“Everyone should have goals in their life!”
“OK men,” said the Paratrooper Captain, “Hill 612 is our objective. We’ve got to take it from the enemy before our troops land on the beach.”
“My intention is to beat the seller down to as low a price as possible so that when I resale the company I can then make a much larger profit margin.”
NOTE: You also use ‘on behalf of‘ at weddings = “On behalf of the Bride and Groom I would like to propose a toast – to the Happy Couple!”
Law English word of the Week: Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:
Liquidated damages
A liquidated damages clause is a clause whereby the buyer makes a real attempt to estimate the loss likely to be incurred by a breach of contract. In which case the buyer may recover the amounts mentioned, no more, no less ie the liquidated damages clause must represent a genuine estimate of the damages.
Vocabulary for Contracts: Wortschatz für Verträge:
on behalf of – P. P. means per procurationem.
*pp is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase per procurationem and is used when signing a letter on someone else’s behalf.
A common usage of per procurationem in the English-speaking world occurs in business letters, which are often signed on behalf of another person. For example, given a secretary authorized to sign a letter on behalf of the president of a company, the signature takes the form: p.p. Secretary’s Signature. President’s Name.
Vocabulary for Negotiations: Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:
to be in the driver’s seat (driving)
phrase of driving means to be in control of a situation.
“The company that has less to lose is the company that is in the driving seat.“
The Payee – this is the person who writes out a cheque. Cheques are still used across the world, especially in countries such as the USA and Canada.
Phrase of the day:Satz des Tages:
To pay by cheque / to pay by or with your credit card. To pay CASH for something.
Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:
If a business “Breaks even” it makes neither profit (profitieren) nor loss (Verlust).
Sample Sentence:
“After studying the company’s books the accountant (Buchhalter(masculine, Buchhalterin, feminine) told the Managing Director (M.D.) that they had only broken even that year.”
British English (B.E.) = goose pimples (Gänsehaut)
American English (A.E.) = goosebumps
a state of the skin caused by cold, fear, or excitement, in which small bumps appear on the surface as the hairs become erect; goose pimples. Actually, I also say, “goosebumps“; so does that make me an American?
Sample Sentence:
“This place is so creepy it gives me goosebumps.“
Pronunciation tip: Aussprachetipp:
“I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen.”
Try and say this sentence ten times quickly without a mistake.
Versuchen Sie, diesen Satz zehnmal schnell und fehlerfrei zu sagen.
False Friends Tip of the Week:
Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:
GermanTranslationFalse Friend (F.F.)Meaning of F.F.
familiär family familiar bekannt, vertraut
Wit, Wit, Wit Business examples:
Witz, Witz, Witz Geschäftsbeispiele:
“There is a very easy way to return from a casino with a small fortune – go there with a large one.” Quote by Jackie Yelton.
Slang word of the day: Slangwort des Tages:
Nowt.
Coming originally from Northern England, this slang word has recently entered the mainstream British slang and means ‘nothing’.
Sample Sentence:
“I know nowt about high finance, but I do know a lot about ballooning….” said the Chancellor of the Exchequer before it popped!
An ant that should be going to school, but doesn’t = Truant.
An ant who manages or superintends an organization or activity = Superintendant. (OK it is spelt wrong) 1. Leiter; 2. Inspektor
NEW term: “Agnorant.” = See definition below.
Definition: people who are extremely ignorant, yet are simultaneously extremely arrogant.
Example: people who think they know more about science than scientists.
A lying down ant – Recumbant. (OK it is spelt wrong)
A knowledgeable ant – Conversant.
Cockney rhyming slang: Cockney Reimender Slang:
Dukes = Duke[s] of York = fork (Gabel).
Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:
“Good people don’t need rules and bad people won’t keep them any way that’s why we need a new heart.” Mark Ian Brislin.
“I hope that you understand this joke?”
Delivering professional Business English teachingin person or via video conferencing in Dresden, Chemnitz,Meißen, Brand-Erbisdorf, Lichtenberg, Freiberg,Halsbrücke, and all over the state of Sachsen for over 20 years!
Fortgeschrittene, Anfänger, Geschäftsenglisch, Firmenkurse, Gruppenunterricht, In-house Englisch, Sprachschule Englisch, Telefonkonferenz Englischpersönlich oder per Videokonferenz; in Dresden, Chemnitz, Brand-Erbisdorf, Freiberg, Halsbrücke, Lichtenberg, Meißen, und überall in Sachsen.
Recent Comments