rag / scoundrel
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rag
An old, torn, or worn-out piece of fabric that is often used for cleaning or rough work; a cleaning rag.
Gib mir bitte einen alten Lumpen, ich muss das verschüttete Öl aufwischen.
Please give me an old rag; I need to wipe up the spilled oil.
to spare no expense
An idiom meaning that someone is very generous and does not skimp on money or effort, especially for an invitation or a gift.
Zu seinem Geburtstag hat er sich nicht lumpen lassen und alle seine Freunde in ein teures Restaurant eingeladen.
For his birthday, he spared no expense and invited all his friends to an expensive restaurant.
scoundrel
A derogatory, often outdated term for a dishonorable, characterless man; a rogue or villain.
Dieser Lump hat mich um mein ganzes Geld betrogen!
That scoundrel cheated me out of all my money!
rags
Usually used in the plural to refer to old, torn, and shabby clothing.
Der arme Mann auf der Straße war nur in Lumpen gekleidet.
The poor man on the street was dressed only in rags.
The different meanings of 'Lumpen' (rag) derive from the basic idea of something worthless. An old scrap of fabric is a 'Lumpen' (rag), and a person without honor was formerly referred to derogatorily as a 'Lump' (scoundrel).
Er benutzte einen alten Lumpen, um sein Fahrrad zu putzen.
He used an old rag to clean his bicycle.
The idiom 'sich nicht lumpen lassen' (to spare no expense) is reflexive and has a positive meaning that is almost the opposite of the word 'Lump' (scoundrel). It means that someone is very generous and does not skimp on money or effort.
Bei der Feier hat sie sich nicht lumpen lassen und für alle bezahlt.
At the celebration, she spared no expense and paid for everyone.
Calling a person a 'Lump' (scoundrel) is very outdated today and is used only rarely. It often sounds like something from an old film or book and is strongly derogatory.
„Dieser Lump!“, rief der alte Mann wütend.
'That scoundrel!' the old man shouted angrily.
When 'Lumpen' (rags) describes torn clothing, the plural form is almost always used. The phrase is often 'in Lumpen gekleidet sein' (to be dressed in rags).
Die Figur im Theaterstück war arm und nur in Lumpen gekleidet.
The character in the play was poor and dressed only in rags.
rag / license / wimp
Both words can refer to a piece of cloth used for cleaning. Lappen mainly describes its practical use as a cleaning cloth, whereas Lumpen places more emphasis on its old, worn, or torn condition. Lappen fits a normal cleaning cloth; Lumpen is more appropriate for an old piece of fabric.
Ich nahm einen alten Lumpen und wischte die verschmutzte Werkbank sauber.
I took an old rag and wiped the dirty workbench clean.
Ich nahm einen Lappen und wischte den Tisch sauber.
I took a rag and wiped the table clean.
