peanuts
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peanuts
Colloquial for a very small, insignificant sum of money that is out of proportion to the value or effort involved.
Für so ein großes Projekt sind zehntausend Euro doch Peanuts.
For such a big project, ten thousand euros is really peanuts.
'Peanuts' is a word borrowed directly from English. While it literally means 'Erdnüsse' (peanuts), German has also developed the additional figurative, colloquial meaning for a small sum of money.
Er sagte, er würde den Job nicht für Peanuts machen.
He said he wouldn't do the job for peanuts.
You can easily tell which meaning is meant from the context. If it is about money, salaries, costs, or prices, it refers to the sum of money. If it is about food, snacks, recipes, or allergies, it refers to peanuts.
Der Gewinn aus dem Verkauf war im Vergleich zum Aufwand nur Peanuts.
The profit from the sale was only peanuts compared to the effort.
The meaning 'geringe Geldsumme' (small sum of money) is clearly colloquial. In formal business documents or negotiations, you would instead speak of a 'geringen Betrag' (small amount) or an 'unbedeutenden Summe' (insignificant sum).
Das Budget für die Marketingkampagne sind doch nur Peanuts.
The budget for the marketing campaign is just peanuts.
In the money-related meaning, 'Peanuts' is usually treated as a plural word that refers to a single sum. It often appears with the verb 'sein' (to be) in sentences like 'Das ist/sind Peanuts' (That's peanuts) or in the phrase 'etwas für Peanuts bekommen' (to get something for peanuts).
Er hat das alte Auto für Peanuts gekauft.
He bought the old car for peanuts.
nut
'Nuss' and 'Peanuts' can both have to do with edible nuts. 'Nuss' is the normal German word and is general. 'Peanuts' is an English word that is sometimes used in German for Erdnüsse (peanuts), especially with snacks or on packaging. Colloquially, however, it can also mean a very small sum of money. Learners may confuse the words because 'Peanuts' can seem like a type of nut in some situations, but it does not generally mean 'nuts'. In normal German, 'Nuss' or, more precisely, 'Erdnuss' is usually clearer. 'Peanuts' fits better in casual language, with snacks, or in the meaning 'very little money'.
Für so viel Arbeit ist diese Bezahlung nur Peanuts.
For that much work, this pay is just peanuts.
Am Wochenende knackten wir Nüsse und erzählten lange Geschichten.
At the weekend, we cracked nuts and told long stories.