Quark
nonsense
Colloquial for nonsense or something worthless and false. Usually used predicatively or as an exclamation.
EXAMPLE
Erzähl doch nicht so einen Quark, das stimmt überhaupt nicht!
Don't tell such nonsense; that's not true at all!
der Quark
nonsense
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Meanings
Usage tips
Origin of the meaning
This word is derived from the food 'der Quark' (quark). The colloquial meaning 'Unsinn' (nonsense) comes from the idea of something soft, shapeless, and therefore worthless.
EXAMPLE
Glaub ihm nicht, er redet nur Quark.
Don't believe him; he's just talking nonsense.
Sentence structure and use
'Quark' is used in this meaning only as an exclamation or predicatively after verbs like 'sein' (to be) or 'reden' (to talk). It never appears as an adjective directly before a noun.
EXAMPLE
Deine Ausrede ist doch Quark!
Your excuse is nonsense!
Typical collocations
Common expressions are 'Quark erzählen' (to tell nonsense), 'Quark reden' (to talk nonsense), or the exclamation 'So ein Quark!' (What nonsense!). They express that you consider something nonsense.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, so einen Quark zu erzählen und sag die Wahrheit.
Stop telling such nonsense and tell the truth.
Compare with
Quark vs Käse
cheese / nonsense
In colloquial language, both Käse and Quark can dismiss a statement as nonsense. Käse is broader and can also refer generally to something bad or worthless. When referring to something said, Quark emphasizes more strongly that it is false or worthless, and is often used as an exclamation or after “sein” (to be).
Quark
Die Behauptung über den Ausflug ist doch Quark.
The claim about the trip is nonsense.
Käse
Die ganze Idee für den Ausflug ist doch Käse.
The whole idea for the trip is nonsense.
In real life
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