Tag: Language

Understanding German – Schmuck

Today’s lesson in understanding German is on the word “Schmuck”. Signage everywhere in Germany/Austria have some version of this word such as here:

No this isn’t a passageway for jerks. Schmuck in German means “jewelry” or “adornment” so some variation of it is used on signage by Jewelers. This is not to be confused with the same word derived from Yiddish that means a “foolish or contemptible person” or literally the word for a male appendage.

Missed the first two words. Check out the definitions for Rathaus and Ausfahrt

August 21, 2015
Understanding German – Ausfahrt

Having never been exposed to much German except for a few bars of Wayne Newton’s Danke Schoen (thanks Ferris Bueller – you are a righteous dude), I was pleasantly surprised at all the words I found funny traveling the last few weeks in Europe. So today I give you the first German word that might need translation for those of us not so up on our Germanic languages.

AUSFAHRT– noun

1. Garage Exit

2. Highway Exit Ramp

Now of course we Americans giggle like little school girls when we try to say it because invariably it always comes out “Ass Fart” Again I claim it still works as the gas is exiting from your system through your ass.

August 12, 2015
Overwhelmed Underwhelmed
Today’s cartoon is based on an actual conversation my wife and I had today. As I was saying it I realized underwhelmed is NOT the opposite of overwhelmed even though “over” and “under” are.

overwhelmed
- Bury or drown beneath a huge mass.
- Defeat completely.
underwhelmed
- Fail to impress or make a positive impact on (someone); disappoint
You would think they wouldn’t BOTH be bad. Anyone else think of two words that should mean opposite things but really aren’t?
September 19, 2012