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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

das Kraut fett machen

English translation: Make a difference

03:52 Nov 14, 2023
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase: das Kraut fett machen
This phrase is found in a 1940 letter, written in Vienna:

"Mit unserem Logis sind wir sehr zufrieden. Wir sind ganz in Ordnung und fühlen uns sehr wohl und nach Ansicht aller Besucher ist es auch sehr gemütlich. Mit Beate vertragen wir uns, wie es ja vorauszusehen war, sehr gut, wir sind einander in allem behilflich, nur unsere Besuche reden ihr ein bißchen zu laut, aber auch das wird sich mit der Zeit geben. Ein Glück, daß Laura nicht mehr hier ist, die hätte das Kraut fett gemacht."

From the context, it seems like the phrase must mean that Laura would have made matters worse, added fuel to the fire, etc., but I can't seem to confirm this.
Timoshka
Local time: 12:51
English translation:Make a difference
Explanation:
"Das Kraut fett machen" can be translated as make a difference, in many cases it is used in a negative way "das Kraut nicht fett machen"
Selected response from:

Norbert Fuchslehner
Austria
Local time: 19:51
Grading comment
Vielen Dank!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1Make a difference
Norbert Fuchslehner
3 +1over-egged the pudding
Andrew Bramhall
1would have made/stirred up a fuss over nothing/a pointless fuss, etc.
Anna Wright


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
would have made/stirred up a fuss over nothing/a pointless fuss, etc.


Explanation:
According to this German Wikipedia dictionary entry, the saying "das macht das Kraut nicht fett" relates to not worrying about irrelevant/minor details/trivialities:
https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/das_macht_das_Kraut_nicht_fet...

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Note added at 5 hrs (2023-11-14 09:47:19 GMT)
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I suppose a near-equivalent English idiom might be: "wouldn't make the grass [grow] any greener"

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Note added at 5 hrs (2023-11-14 09:51:19 GMT)
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or, in this case, she would have fussed/grumbled about how things ought to be done better


    https://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/das_macht_das_Kraut_nicht_fett
Anna Wright
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: No, I think you've misunderstood the Wiktionary reference. It says "solche Kleinigkeiten helfen auch nicht viel weiter", meaning their contribution was so small that they weren't much help.
3 hrs
  -> It literally says "such minutiae won't help much more / get [you] much further", i.e. there's nothing more to be gained from worrying about such tiny details. It has to be interpreted in the given context, in any case.
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
over-egged the pudding


Explanation:
..if you want to maintain the culinary metaphor. 'To over-egg the pudding' or ' to gild the lily' is to add meaning and detail which isn't necessary, to over-complicate matters in a way that leads to confusion and disharmony.

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Note added at 6 hrs (2023-11-14 10:15:35 GMT)
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Anna's idea is on the right lines; its about exaggeration which kicks up a fuss about nothing, which creates a storm in a teacup, potentially.

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:51
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Anna Wright: maybe something like: she would have fussed too much about making everything perfect?
3 hrs
  -> Possibly; the phrase is open to multiple valid interpretations, including yours.
agree  AllegroTrans
8 hrs
  -> Thank you!
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Make a difference


Explanation:
"Das Kraut fett machen" can be translated as make a difference, in many cases it is used in a negative way "das Kraut nicht fett machen"

Example sentence(s):
  • Diese Änderung macht das Kraut auch nicht mehr fett.

    https://de.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/das_macht_das_Kraut_auch_nicht_fett
Norbert Fuchslehner
Austria
Local time: 19:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Vielen Dank!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
11 hrs
neutral  Björn Vrooman: Even if not entirely wrong, this is way too tame. It also doesn't really fit into the sentence posted.
11 hrs
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