He decided not to rock the boat

He decided not to rock the boat

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

Translate the Text into English: Übersetzen:

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

Der Film beginnt um Viertel nach Neun.

Er trifft seine Freunde in einer Stunde.

Meine Frau spielt zwei Stunden Videospiele.

Das Spiel dauert für eine Stunde.

Ihr müsst die Band hören, die Musik ist cool.

Das Spiel ist wirklich kurz.

Die Getränke sind nicht für Kinder.

Ist deine Familie auch groß und laut?

Die Geschäfte sind am Feiertag geschlossen.

Meine Familie feiert heute meinen Geburtstag.

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Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

A business word/phrase = there are severe consequences – means that there will be serious and potentially negative results or outcomes from a specific action or situation. These consequences are likely to be substantial and can cause significant harm, damage, or difficulty. The term emphasises the intensity and gravity of the potential repercussions.

Sample Sentence:

“If the American tariffs on our imported products into the US go up again, then there will be severe consequences for our company.”

Law English Word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

A law word/phrase = Contraband – Schmuggelware

Contraband goods are items that are illegal to import, export, or possess, often involving smuggling or prohibited traffic. This can include goods that are banned outright or illegal items that are prohibited from being moved across borders or into specific facilities, such as prisons.

Sample Sentence:

“There was some Contraband hidden amongst our shipment from the Far East last month.”

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

A word/phrase for contracts = Resilience – Widerstandsfähigkeit / die Elastizität / die Spannkraft.

 

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

A word/phrase for negotiations = “An acid test” –

In negotiations, an “acid test” refers to a crucial point or condition that reveals the true nature or effectiveness of a proposal or a party’s commitment. It’s a defining moment where the reality of a situation is exposed, separating genuine intentions from mere claims.

Sample Sentences:

Here’s an example: “Our company’s willingness to accept a clause guaranteeing an employee’s job security during layoffs is the acid test of our commitment to fair labour practices.” In this case, the job security clause acts as the “acid test“ because it directly addresses a key concern and reveals whether the company truly values its employees beyond mere rhetoric.

Other examples of how “acid test” can be used in negotiations: 

• “The proposed budget cuts in the infrastructure for the country will be the acid test of the new administration’s priorities.”

This highlights how the budget will reveal whether the administration’s stated priorities are actually being prioritised in practice.

• “Their refusal to compromise on this one issue is the acid test of their inflexibility.”

This uses the term to assess the other party’s overall negotiating style and commitment to reaching an agreement.

• “Our newest customer’s positive reaction to our prototype will be the acid test of its market viability.”

In this instance, the customer’s response serves as the ultimate judgment of whether the product is worth pursuing further.

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

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

The longest word in the German language is =

Donaudampfschifffahrtselektrizitätenhauptbetriebswerkbauunterbeamtengesellschaft

= Danube steamship electricity main depot construction sub-official company = 79 letters.

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

To be keen to accentuate the positive means to be eager or enthusiastic about focusing on the good aspects of a situation, person, or experience, rather than dwelling on the negative. It’s about choosing to emphasise the favourable elements and having a positive outlook.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Emphasis on the good:

It’s about actively looking for and highlighting the positive aspects of things, even when faced with challenges or difficulties.

Positive mindset:

It’s related to having an optimistic outlook and expecting positive outcomes.

Potential benefits:

A positive mindset can lead to increased happiness, better social interactions, improved academic or career success, and overall well-being, according to Psychology Today.

Sample Sentence:

“If someone is struggling with a difficult task, focusing on the positive aspects, such as the skills they are developing or the progress they are making, can help them stay motivated and engaged.”

 

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

The idiom “not to rock the boat” means to avoid causing trouble or upsetting a stable situation. It implies a preference for maintaining the status quo, even if it’s not ideal, rather than introducing changes that could lead to conflict or disruption.

More detailed explanation:

Avoiding Trouble:

The core meaning is to stay out of arguments or situations that could create problems.

Maintaining Harmony:

It suggests a desire to keep things calm and peaceful, even if it means suppressing one’s own opinions or concerns.

Not Stirring Controversy:

The phrase is often used to advise against actions or statements that might cause disagreement or conflict.

Stable Situation:

It’s used when a situation is already relatively stable, and the person doesn’t want to risk upsetting the balance.

Sample Sentence:

“At the party, when his girlfriend asked her friends and her boyfriend about how her new dress showed off her figure, he decided not to rock the boat and just agreed with everyone else.”

 

British English / American English Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English (B.E.) = silencer

American English (A.E.) = muffler

The English word silencer is often used in reference to an addition to a pistol barrel in order to silence the sound of the bang when someone pulls the trigger. It can also refer to a thick piece of cloth worn around the neck for warmth, similar to a scarf, but this usage is less common in the UK.

In American English muffler often refers to having a fitment at the end of a car exhaust pipe in order to silence the sound of the car engine.

Sample Sentence:

“A muffler’s primary role is to reduce sound, but it can also play a role in your car’s overall performance. An engine is able to generate more power, faster if it is able to get rid of all of the exhaust gases it produces quickly.”

 

Special Grammar Tip of the Week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

The Present Continuous Tense is: am / is/are PLUS the Gerund (das ing-Formular), the ING ending form of the Verb. It is an action that started in the PAST but is still going on NOW.

For example:

I am learning English.

He is learning English.

She is learning English.

It is learning English.

We are learning English.

You are learning English.

They are learning English.

 

Pronunciation Tip: Aussprachetipp:

Resilience = ruh·zi·lee·uhns

So we will practice this in our lesson – Resilience

 

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

German                     = Aktentasche

Translation               = briefcase

False Friend (F.F.)    = Brieftasche

Meaning of F.F.        = wallet

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Wit, wit, wit – Education:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Ausbildung:

“My father must have had some elementary education, for he could read and write and keep accounts inaccurately. ”

Quote by George Behard Shaw.

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Slang word of the day:

Slangwort des Tages:

Arse – the buttocks or a stupid person.

Sample Sentences:

At the beach or swimming pool, “Cor, look at the arse on that!”

Anywhere, anytime in the world today, someone is saying, “Donald, don’t be a stupid arse!”

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

To arse around – waste time, mess about.

Sample Sentence:

“Don’t arse around you nitwits, get off your arse and stop arsing about and go help someone!”

 

Cockney Rhyming Slang:

Cockney Reimender Slang:

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

Sample Sentence:

“Cor mate, I’m cream-crackered! We’ve been working in this garden for five hours, bending over on the grass, cutting the lawn with these nail scissors!”

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

I ran five miles today. Then, finally, I said,

“Here, lady… take your purse.”

Quote by Emo Philips.

 

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