64
Übrigens, das ist meine Handynummer.
57
When you want to use an abbreviation, you can use BTW, as it is known in German, too. But note, that you should use it only in a very colloquial way, like in messengers, SMS or private e-mails. Never use it in a formal way.
When you want to use a German word, "übrigens" is correct, as user29142 wrote in his answer. There is no German abbreviation as it is a ...
47
There is no abbreviaton that perfectly matches "btw", but there are a few single-word-options; in decreasing order with regard on how generally they can be used to translate "btw" in my opinion:
"Übrigens",
"Nebenbei",
"Apropos",
"Außerdem", (doesn't work in OP's example sentence, but fits in other cases)
"Wo wir gerade dabei sind", (colloquial)
"btw", (...
43
I think "poetic license" and "artistic license" are best translated as "dichterische Freiheit" and "künstlerische Freiheit". Those phrases literally mean "poetic liberty" and "artistic liberty" and are fairly common in German to express what you referred to in your first paragraph.
Some possible translations for
The filmmakers used a bit too much ...
40
A possibility to express "leading away from agoal instead of towards it" would be
kontraproduktiv
"Self defeating" literally translated is "selbstzerstörerisch", but this would not express the mentioned meaning. "Kontraproduktiv" however expresses that the actions taken lead to the opposite goal.
34
We also have the idioms
ein Eigentor schießen (colloquial)
sich ins [eigene] Knie schießen (colloquial)
der Schuss geht nach hinten los (colloquial)
sich ins eigene Fleisch schneiden (standard)
each meaning to work unintentionally against your own goal.
34
I think there is no ideal translation in German, but some that come close:
Da kann man nichts machen.
or
Da bin ich machtlos.
would be fitting,
So ist das Leben. (That's life)
would work most of the times, too, or even the famous German word
Tja...
could be appropriate.
33
The most literal translation would be
Ruft nicht alle auf einmal.
But I wouldn't use a verb probably. I don't know why but that would sound unnatural or at least it doesn't sound ironic or funny anymore. Maybe it's just too long. Either way.. the thing that came to mind first was
Nicht alle auf einmal!
but there are other options, too, like
Einer ...
33
I cannot think of a really close equivalent, because your proverb shows an attitude that is not well received - at least few people would publicly admit they feel this way. The closest one that comes to my mind is
Nimm, was Du kriegen kannst
which literally translates to take whatever you can but rather means to take any benefit that is offered or ...
30
You could say something like
(Aber) was kann/soll man/ich machen/tun?
See e.g. https://context.reverso.net/%C3%BCbersetzung/deutsch-englisch/Was+soll+man+machen
29
A similar established phrase is
sich selbst im Weg stehen
which means: oneself being an obstacle on the way to the target. It does not imply that you made the situation worse yourself, however.
I'm not aware of any adjective summarizing this.
28
Es kann nicht die Aufgabe eines Politikers sein, die öffentliche Meinung abzuklopfen und dann das Populäre zu tun. Aufgabe des Politikers ist es, das Richtige zu tun und es populär zu machen.
Is a saying by Walter Scheel, former foreign minister, acting chancellor (after Willy Brandt's resignment) and the famous singing Bundespräsident (I'd bet the only ...
27
Zwei stilistisch einwandfreie Varianten sind "übrigens" und "apropos".
Übrigens, hier meine Telefonnummer
Apropos, hier meine Telefonnummer.
"Apropos" ist aber selten und für den Alltag meist ein bisschen zu bildungssprachlich.
"BTW" in einem deutschen Brief oder sonst einem Text zu verwenden, ist nicht ratsam. Der Leser - sofern des Englischen ...
26
Plenty, with slight differences in connotation and usage possibilities.
For example:
(Das ist mir) Egal. $
Das ist mir einerlei. $
Mir doch egal.
(Das) Ist mir gleich. $
(Das) Ist mir Wurscht/Latte/Schnuppe/Wumpe/Hupe... #
Wie/Was/Wo... auch immer.
Meinetwegen. $
Das kümmert mich nicht. $
Das juckt mich nicht.
Das schert mich nicht.
Das kratzt mich nicht.
...
26
There is a common German proverb from a slightly different angle:
Der Ehrliche ist immer der Dumme.
translating to "The honest one will always turn out to be the dumb one", or paraphrased: "Acting honest is just not worth it".
The connotation can be a bit different though, I believe. Often, the proverb is used by someone who has been honest himself and ...
26
Das lateinische Advocatus Diaboli ist ein im Deutschen durchaus geläufiger Begriff mit der gesuchten Bedeutung. Er wird zwar selten verwendet, es gibt aber immerhin einen Wikipedia-Artikel1 dazu.
Die entsprechende Redewendung wäre "[den] Advocatus Diaboli spielen". Also etwa:
Ich spiele mal den Advocatus Diaboli und frage: ...
25
Probably the most literal translation, which also fits from the "temperature" is
gestiefelt und gespornt
(literally "booted and spurred"). This has, like the English, a military background.
24
What comes closest IMO is
Was bleibt mir anderes übrig?
literally "what else is left for me", as in "what alternatives do I have?".
21
I'm not sure I ever heard a complete saying about this, but usually Germans will make a reference to the "Vorführeffekt" in a situation like this.
It pretty literally translates to *"demo effect" and means just that: that demonstrations in themselves have a tendency to go wrong.
Note that this also includes demonstrations of negative things, i.e. trying to ...
21
As always it depends on the context :)
If this relates to a thing (like a set of cards during a poker game)
Ist das alles, was du hast? / Mehr hast du nicht?
If this relates to a skill (like fighting) you would add drauf or können
Ist das alles, was du drauf hast? / Mehr kannst du nicht?
If this relates to a quantity (like the force of a punch)
...
21
There is an idiom referring to the ten commandments.
Das elfte Gebot heißt: Du sollst dich nicht erwischen lassen.
The eleventh commanments reads: Thou shalt not get caught.
One variation is
Du kannst alles machen, du darfst dich nur nicht erwischen lassen.
You can do everything you want, just don't get caught.
which is quite fitting for ...
19
Yes, it works. The most popular way to say this is:
Sie haben sich verwählt.
An example dialogue:
Guten Tag, ich möchte bitte Jonas sprechen.
Wen? Jonas? Hier wohnt kein Jonas, ich glaube, Sie haben sich verwählt.
or:
Sie sind offensichtlich falsch verbunden.
or:
Anscheinend haben Sie eine falsche Nummer gewählt.
or:
Da liegt ein Irrtum vor.
19
The sentence is understood the same way in German. And you’re right that you cannot move the nicht in the second position.
Same is true if you replace must/müssen with should/sollten.
Shouldn’t we speak German? ⇒ Sollten wir nicht Deutsch sprechen?
On a side note, be aware that “must not” usually is translated as “nicht dürfen.”
You must not enter ...
18
Well, I would say that the best option is
Ach so!
I've never heard Ich sehe, but verstehe could mean I see as well:
– Mein Wagen war echt teuer
– Wie viel?
– XY Tausend Euros, denn es ist ein Mercedes
– Ach so! // verstehe // Aha!
18
For the given context I would use:
Ganz provokant gefragt: Warum... (Provocatively asked: why...)
Überspitzt formuliert would be an alternative. Both reduce the full sharpness by admitting it; this also means, that the speaking person does not necessarily share that point of view.
18
Geläufiger als der lateinische Begriff ist "Des Teufels Advokat".
Dabei betont man, dass nur die Rolle eingenommen wird, und es nicht die eigentliche Meinung ist:
Ich spiele hier mal des Teufels Advokat und sage ...
Meines Erachtens nach ist diese Redewendung erst durch Film- und andere Übersetzungen als Anglizismus in der deutschen Sprache angekommen, ...
17
Both Entschuldigung (which is a noun; it is an abbreviated form of ich bitte um Entschuldigung) and entschuldigen Sie can be used in a similar way to es tut mir leid; unlike it, they can also be used when interrupting someone:
Excuse me, what time is it?
Entschuldigung, wie spät ist es?
(Es tut mir leid, wenn ich störe, aber ... is also possible.)
I'd ...
17
In colloquial it's absolutely fine to say "Und?" which may sound rude though. A more friendly way to ask is:
Worauf willst du hinaus?
17
Von etwas abzusehen kenne ich nur von Beerdigungen, à la
von Trauerbekundungen am Grab bitten wir abzusehen.
I’d just say
Bitte keine Geschenke.
You could add something like
Eure Anwesenheit ist Geschenk genug.
Sometimes people may also ask to donate to charity instead of bringing gifts, and then point people to a certain organization like ...
17
In your German version, there are subtle differences in meaning than in your English version.
Must we not speak German?
I understand the meaning as: is it not enforced or encouraged that we speak German? Maybe: we are not speaking German at the moment, but I thought we had to?
Müssen wir nicht Deutsch sprechen?
I understand this, which is by the way ...
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