to flutter
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to flutter
To move quickly and irregularly back and forth in the air, often caused by the wind. Typical of light things such as flags, leaves, or the wings of butterflies.
Die Wäsche flatterte auf der Leine im Wind.
The laundry fluttered on the line in the wind.
to arrive by mail
Colloquial for the arrival of mail, especially bills or official letters.
Gestern ist mir eine hohe Steuernachzahlung ins Haus geflattert.
Yesterday, a large back-tax bill arrived in my mailbox.
to be nervous
To have a feeling of nervousness, excitement, or fear that often also becomes physically noticeable. Often used in the expression 'die Nerven flattern' (one's nerves are on edge).
Vor dem Vorstellungsgespräch flatterten ihm die Nerven.
Before the job interview, he was nervous.
You can recognize the meaning of 'flattern' (to flutter) from the subject: Is it light objects in the wind (flag, leaf), mail (bill, letter), or 'Nerven' (nerves)?
Die Blätter flatterten von den Bäumen.
The leaves fluttered down from the trees.
The perfect tense is formed with 'haben' when the movement takes place in one location. If it describes movement from A to B, you use 'sein'.
Die Papiere haben auf dem Schreibtisch geflattert.
The papers fluttered on the desk.
The expression 'ins Haus flattern' is used colloquially for mail arriving, often with a slightly negative or ironic connotation when referring to bills.
Schon wieder ist eine Mahnung ins Haus geflattert.
Yet another reminder notice arrived in the mail.
In the meaning 'nervös sein' (to be nervous), 'flattern' is used in the fixed expression 'die Nerven flattern' (one's nerves are on edge). The person who is nervous is in the dative.
Vor jeder Prüfung flattern mir die Nerven.
Before every exam, I get nervous.
to arrive
For mail or bills, both ankommen and flattern can express that something has arrived. Ankommen is neutral, while flattern sounds colloquial and vivid. Ankommen suits a factual message, while flattern suits a casual or lively description.
Die Rechnung flatterte heute bei mir ins Haus.
The bill fluttered into my mailbox today.
Die Rechnung ist heute bei mir angekommen.
The bill arrived today.
