to keep mum

to keep mum

NOTE: Business English, etc.
can be found below the translation exercises.

Translate the Text into English: Übersetzen:

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

Meine Freundin plant eine Party.

Duo kommt ganz bestimmt zur Party.

Wir planen ein Picknick für seinen Geburtstag.

Heute ist ein wichtiger Tag, Ich kann endlich schlafen.

Ich komme ganz bestimmt zur Party.

Nina ist aufgeregt, ihre Partner hat bald Geburtstag.

Ich hoffe, jeden Tag zu schwimmen.

Warum ist morgen ein wichtiger Tag für dich?

Die Kinder planen, Volleyball zu spielen.

Dein Pferd hat Geburtstag, wo ist meine Einladung?

Meine Oma hofft, ihre Schwester kommt zur Party.

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

Bluebells often carpet the floor of the local woods in England.

 

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

A business word/phrase = Property Tax – Grundststeuer = a tax levied directly on property.

To impose (a tax, fee, or fine).

Sample Sentence:

“A tax of two per cent was levied on all import cargoes.”

 

Law English Word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

A law word/phrase = lawsuit = a claim or dispute brought to a law court for adjudication.

Sample Sentence:

“The company lawyer filed a lawsuit against the local Water Company.”

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

A word/phrase for contracts = Call-off agreements
Also known as call-off contracts.

A “call-off agreement” refers to a specific type of agreement that allows a buyer to purchase goods or services from a pre-approved supplier under a pre-existing framework agreement. Instead of going through a full tender process each time, a call-off allows the buyer to “call off” specific orders from the framework, using pre-negotiated terms and prices. Essentially, it’s a template contract where many terms are already set.

 

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

A word/phrase for negotiations = There’s just one more little problem with ….. that I’d like to bring up before the meeting is finished.

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

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One particular wood, which is very near to where I used to live in England, was actually called, “Bluebell Wood“.

 

Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

Entrepreneur (a French word used in English) – Unternehmer. a person who sets up a business or businesses, taking on financial risks in the hope of profit.

A promoter in the entertainment industry.

Sample Sentences:

“Many entrepreneurs see great potential within this emerging market.”

“The music entrepreneur refrained from financing an Opera that ‘The Who’ had written.”

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

“To keep ‘mum’ about something” means to remain silent or not reveal a secret or piece of information. It’s an informal way of saying not to talk about something.

Sample Sentences:

A friend might ask you to “keep mum about the surprise party for a good friend“, meaning you should not tell anyone about it.

“She was keeping mum about a possible move to Liverpool FC.“

 

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

Going back to Blighty! – This idiom means returning to Britain, or specifically England, as one’s home. It’s an informal and affectionate term, often used by soldiers during wartime to express their longing for home. The phrase originated from the Urdu word “vilayati,” meaning “foreign” or “European,” and gained popularity during the World Wars.

 

British English / American English Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English (B.E.) = Crossroads

American English (A.E.) = Intersection

German = die Kreuzung.

 

Special Grammar Tip of the Week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

We usually use SOME (and not ANY) when we OFFER something. For example, in “Would you like some…”

 

Pronunciation Tip: Aussprachetipp:

To Knead (to knead = Zum Kneten

 the dough = der Teig) – to need = brauchen.

So we will practice this in our lesson – they are pronounced in the same way.

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

German                    = Hinterteil

Translation              = backside

False Friend (F.F.)   = Rückseite

Meaning of F.F.        = back

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

 

This is a typical scene which is near to where I used to live in England. As you can see, it’s very flat countryside.

 

Wit, wit, wit – Education:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Ausbildung:

“Introducing ‘lite’, the new way to spell ‘light’ but with twenty per cent fewer letters.”

Quote by Jerry Seinfeld.

NOTE: These so-called ‘new’ ways of spelling words almost always originate from the USA, for example, THRU; the correct spelling is THROUGH. There are several words within the English language that have come under fire from American laziness!

 

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

 

Slang word of the day:

Slangwort des Tages:

A Belter – a foolish person (Dundee, Scotland). However, to say that was a belter means in England that something – a song, a show, a film, etc. was great!

In British English, “belter“ informally describes something that is exceptionally good, powerful, or thrilling. It can refer to a goal, an album, a song, or even a hangover, anything that is outstanding.

Sample Sentences:

“That was a belter of a goal” (meaning a fantastic goal).

“Tonight’s episode is going to be a belter” (meaning it will be thrilling).

“His new album is a belter” (meaning it is excellent).

“I had a real belter of a hangover” (meaning a very bad hangover.

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

Blinding – fantastic, great, superb.

Sample Sentence:

“That was a blinding performance by Sting!”

NOTE: Do not ask me why someone chose the word blinding to mean great; I’m just as confused as you!

 

Cockney Rhyming Slang:

Cockney Reimender Slang:

To be Cream-crackered  = knackered, thus extremely tired, exhausted.

Sample Sentence:

“Man, I’m Cream-crackered after running that Marathon!”

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

“The way I understand it, the Russians are sort of a combination of evil and incompetence… sort of like the Post Office with tanks.”

Quote by Emo Philips.

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

 

 

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