Duck and Dive

Duck and Dive

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

Translate the Text into English: Übersetzen:

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

Wir sind Amerikaner.

Seine Eltern sind Amerikaner.

Wir sind sehr intelligent.

Mein Hund ist lustig, aber nicht intelligent.

Meine Eltern sind Deutsche.

Seine Freunde sind nett.

Sind ihre Eltern jung oder alt?

Ihre Freunde sind lustig und nett.

Seine Mitbewohner sind Amerikaner.

Mia liebt ihre Schwester.

 

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A lovely photograph taken in the UK in November 2025.

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

A business word/phrase = “Delayed” = if your aeroplane is ‘delayed’ when you are trying to fly to another country or even an internal/domestic flight.

Sample Sentences:

“My aeroplane was delayed for 90 minutes at Heathrow airport. This meant that my connecting flight at Schiphol airport had already taken off by the time I arrived.”

“Because of the rail strike, our packages have been delayed in transit and therefore will not receive them until next week.”

 

 

Law English Word of the Week:

Gesetz Englisches Wort der Woche:

A law word/phrase = DUI

“Driving Under the Influence.” The term refers to the offence of driving a vehicle after consuming alcohol.

The slang term for this is drunk driving (U.S.) or drink driving (U.K.).

SAMPLE SENTENCE:

“He lost his license after he got a DUI.”

 

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

A word/phrase for contracts = making false statements. The elements of the offence of making a false statement are: (1) making a false statement or willfully overvaluing property or security knowing the same to be false, (2) for the purpose of influencing in any way the action, (3) of the enumerated agencies and organisations.

Sample Sentence:

“Any false statements made in this contract can result in criminal proceedings taken against the person(s) who have made these statements.”

 

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

A word/phrase for negotiations = “We need to hit the nail on the head.” (same saying as in German) means we must be completely accurate or say something exactly right. It suggests that we need to be precise in our actions or words to identify the exact problem or provide the correct solution.

• Literal meaning: Imagine a carpenter hitting a nail perfectly on its head to drive it into wood.

• Figurative meaning: In conversation, it means someone has accurately described a situation or problem with perfect precision.

• Example: You could say someone “hit the nail on the head” if they correctly identified the cause of a business issue.

• Synonyms: Other ways to express this idea include being “spot on” or “bang on“.

Sample Sentence:

“She hit the nail on the head when she suggested the company requires more Government support with acquisitions”.

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

To move house / to move your body.

Sample Sentences:

“We’ve just bought a new house, so we will have to move from our old house to our new one.”

“When you get to my age, you have to go to the fitness club once a week just to move your body about a bit.”

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

They are coming in dribs and drabs – meaning bit by bit. Some here, some there, not a steady amount/number.

Sample Sentence:

“Sales of our products are coming in dribs and drabs across Europe, and so we need to increase our position in the market! ”

 

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

The idiom “it’s a double-edged sword” means something that has both positive and negative consequences, like a situation that offers both a benefit and a drawback. The figurative phrase comes from the idea of a literal sword with two sharpened edges, which can be effective in attack, but also poses the risk of cutting its wielder.

• Benefits: The advantages can be clear, such as getting a promotion at work.

• Drawbacks: The downside may be less obvious and can be a risk, such as an increased workload that comes with the promotion.

Examples:

• A new car is a double-edged sword because it provides freedom of transportation, but also comes with high costs for fuel and insurance.

• Social media can be a double-edged sword, allowing for great connection while also potentially leading to misinformation or comparison.

• Fame is a double-edged sword, because it can bring success, but also a loss of privacy.

 

 

British English / American English Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

British English (B.E.) = To have a bath. To have a shower.

To go by the lift.

American English (A.E.) = To take a bath, to take a shower. To take the elevator.

 

Special Grammar Tip of the Week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

Upgrade Words:

Need = Essential, Necessity, Requirement, Require.

 

Pronunciation Tip: Aussprachetipp:

Bate/bait = are pronounced in the same way.

Beizen / der Köder.

 

False Friends Tip of the Week:

Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

German                    = Beruhige dich.

Translation              = Calm down.

False Friend (F.F.)   = Komm herunter.

Meaning of F.F.        = Come down.

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Wit, wit, wit – Education:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Ausbildung:

“What the heck is an FAQ?”

Quote by John Hunter.

NOTE: If you do not know, it means Frequently Asked Question. You will see this FAG on many websites.

 

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Slang word of the day:

Slangwort des Tages:

Der Kofferraum eines Autos.

The Boot (the trunk =American English) of a car.

Sample Sentence:

“Put your luggage into the boot of my car.”

 

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

To be Skint (noun) on the theme of money, to be ‘skint’ means that you don’t have any money.

Sample Sentence:

“Sorry mate, I can’t come out for your birthday party. I’m not getting paid until next week and I’m skint.”

 

Cockney Rhyming Slang:

Cockney Reimender Slang:

To “Duck and Dive” means “to skive”.

German = schälen, schwänzen, blaumachen.

Sample Sentence:

I knew a young guy on a building site who loved to DUCK AND DIVE all day long. He would walk about the building site carrying a bucket of paint, and when someone asked him what he was doing, he’d say, “I was asked to get some paint.”

To Skive (verb) to be a Skiver (noun).

If you’re pretending to be sick so that you can’t go to work, you’re ‘skiving.’ To skive off is also the equivalent of playing truant.

E.g. “Jeremy is such a skiver. He always takes the day off work.”

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself.”

Quote by Groucho Marx.

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