flap / mouth
Loading your saved state.
flap
A movable part, often attached with a hinge, that closes an opening, e.g. on a box, stove, or mailbox.
Die Katze kann durch die kleine Klappe in der Tür ins Haus gelangen.
The cat can get into the house through the small flap in the door.
mouth
Colloquial word for the mouth, usually in a command to be quiet.
Halt endlich die Klappe, ich kann mich nicht konzentrieren!
Shut your mouth already; I can't concentrate!
clapperboard
A film clapperboard; a device used during filming to synchronize image and sound.
Der Regieassistent rief: „Klappe, die Zweite!“
The assistant director called, "Take two!"
to kill two birds with one stone
A fixed expression meaning to solve two different problems or tasks with a single action.
Ich kann auf dem Weg zur Arbeit gleich einkaufen und schlage so zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.
I can do the shopping on my way to work and kill two birds with one stone.
'Die Klappe' (flap / mouth) is related to the verb 'klappen'. 'Klappen' can mean 'to work/function', but it can also describe a movement, as in 'zusammenklappen' (to fold up) or 'aufklappen' (to open up/unfold).
Man kann den Laptop nach der Benutzung einfach zuklappen.
You can simply close the laptop after using it.
The use of 'Klappe' for 'Mund' (mouth) is very colloquial. The command 'Halt die Klappe!' (shut your mouth!) is direct and can come across as rude.
Sei still! Kannst du nicht einmal fünf Minuten die Klappe halten?
Be quiet! Can't you keep your mouth shut for even five minutes?
The idiom 'zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe schlagen' (to kill two birds with one stone) is very common. It means that you achieve two goals at the same time with a single action.
Wenn ich das Paket auf dem Weg zur Arbeit abgebe, schlage ich zwei Fliegen mit einer Klappe.
If I drop off the package on my way to work, I'll kill two birds with one stone.
In the literal meaning, 'Klappe' is often combined with verbs like 'öffnen' (to open), 'schließen' (to close), 'aufmachen' (to open), or 'zumachen' (to close). Typical objects are 'Briefkasten' (mailbox), 'Mülleimer' (trash can), or 'Ofen' (stove/oven).
Bitte mach die Klappe vom Mülleimer wieder zu.
Please close the flap of the trash can again.
You can recognize the meaning 'Filmklappe' (film clapperboard) from the context. Words like 'Film' (film), 'Szene' (scene), 'Regie' (direction), 'Ton' (sound), or a count like 'die Erste!' (take one!) point to a film shoot.
Der Regisseur rief: „Und bitte! Ton ab, Kamera läuft, Klappe!"
The director called, "And... action! Sound rolling, camera rolling, clapper!"
mouth
Mund and Klappe can be used in a command to be quiet. Den Mund halten is the more neutral fixed expression, while die Klappe halten is colloquial and often sounds harsher. Mund fits a matter-of-fact command; Klappe can be used in a very casual or coarse order.
Nach seiner unbedachten Bemerkung hielt er die Klappe und sagte nichts mehr.
After his thoughtless remark, he shut up and didn't say anything else.
Nach seiner unbedachten Bemerkung hielt er den Mund und sagte nichts mehr.
After his thoughtless remark, he shut up and didn't say anything else.
