box / crate
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box / crate
A usually rectangular container made of wood, cardboard, or plastic for storing or transporting objects.
Im Keller stehen noch mehrere Kisten mit alten Büchern vom Umzug.
There are still several boxes of old books from the move in the basement.
old car
A colloquial, often derogatory term for an old or poorly functioning car.
Mit dieser alten Kiste traue ich mich kaum noch auf die Autobahn.
I hardly dare to take this old car onto the highway anymore.
computer
A colloquial term for a computer, especially a desktop PC.
Meine neue Grafikkarte passt nicht in die alte Kiste.
My new graphics card doesn't fit into the old computer.
a clear-cut thing
A clear, straightforward matter or situation whose outcome is predictable.
Nach dem dritten Tor in der ersten Halbzeit war das Spiel eine klare Kiste.
After the third goal in the first half, the game was a clear-cut thing.
'Kiste' (box/crate) has several colloquial meanings besides the literal meaning 'Behälter' (container). The context makes clear what is meant: Are people talking about a move, an old car, or a computer?
Hilf mir mal, diese schwere Kiste in den Keller zu tragen.
Help me carry this heavy box down to the basement.
In its literal meaning, 'Kiste' is often used with drinks. Typical collocations are 'eine Kiste Bier' (a crate of beer), 'eine Kiste Wasser' (a crate of water), or 'eine Kiste Wein' (a crate of wine).
Für die Party haben wir drei Kisten Limonade gekauft.
We bought three crates of lemonade for the party.
As a colloquial term for a car, 'Kiste' usually has a negative or derogatory meaning. It often describes an old, noisy, or unreliable vehicle.
Ich hoffe, meine alte Kiste schafft die Fahrt in den Urlaub noch.
I hope my old car still manages the trip on vacation.
The expression 'eine klare Kiste' (a clear-cut thing) is a fixed phrase. It means that a situation is clear and the outcome is predictable or already decided.
Der Sieg war am Ende eine ganz klare Kiste für die Heimmannschaft.
In the end, the victory was a completely clear-cut thing for the home team.
box
Box and Kiste are containers for storing or transporting things. Box often fits a compact or specially compartmentalized container, while Kiste tends to refer to a sturdy transport container. This distinction is a typical tendency, not a fixed rule.
Die schweren Schrauben werden in einer robusten Kiste transportiert.
The heavy screws are being transported in a sturdy crate.
Die kleinen Schrauben liegen sortiert in einer kompakten Box mit Fächern.
The small screws are sorted in a compact box with compartments.
