der Rauch
smoke
The visible mixture of gases and fine particles that is produced when materials burn.
EXAMPLE
Dichter Rauch quoll aus dem brennenden Haus.
Thick smoke billowed out of the burning house.
der Rauch
smoke
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Meanings
in Rauch aufgehen
to go up in smoke
A figurative expression meaning that something (e.g., a plan, a hope, money) suddenly disappears or proves to be worthless.
EXAMPLE
Durch die unerwartete Absage sind all unsere Urlaubspläne in Rauch aufgegangen.
Because of the unexpected cancellation, all our vacation plans went up in smoke.
Schall und Rauch
sound and smoke
A fixed expression that describes something fleeting, meaningless, or insubstantial.
EXAMPLE
Seine großen Versprechungen erwiesen sich am Ende als Schall und Rauch.
In the end, his grand promises proved to be nothing but sound and smoke.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Rauch' (smoke) belongs to the word family of the verb 'rauchen' (to smoke). When something 'raucht' (smokes), it produces smoke. A person who smokes is a 'Raucher' (smoker).
EXAMPLE
Das Feuer im Kamin macht viel Rauch.
The fire in the fireplace makes a lot of smoke.
Typical collocations
Common adjectives that describe smoke are 'dichter' (thick), 'schwarzer' (black), or 'weißer' (white) smoke. A typical verb is 'aufsteigen' (to rise): smoke rises from the fire.
EXAMPLE
Über dem Wald stieg eine Säule aus schwarzem Rauch auf.
A column of black smoke rose above the forest.
Fixed expression
The expression 'in Rauch aufgehen' (to go up in smoke) is used figuratively. It means that something abstract, such as plans, hopes, or money, suddenly and completely disappears.
EXAMPLE
Sein ganzes Erspartes ist bei dem Börsencrash in Rauch aufgegangen.
All his savings went up in smoke in the stock market crash.
Fixed expression
'Schall und Rauch' (sound and smoke) is a fixed expression that is often used with 'sein' (to be) or 'sich erweisen als' (to prove to be). It describes something that turns out to be meaningless, empty, or fleeting, for example empty promises.
EXAMPLE
Seine Ankündigungen waren am Ende nur Schall und Rauch.
In the end, his announcements were nothing but sound and smoke.
Compare with
Rauch vs Dampf
steam
Rauch and Dampf can both rise as visible clouds. However, Rauch is produced by combustion and contains fine particles, while Dampf here is produced by heated water. Rauch is the right term above a fire; above boiling water, use Dampf.
Rauch
Aus dem brennenden Topf steigt dunkler Rauch auf.
Dark smoke is rising from the burning pot.
Dampf
Aus dem kochenden Topf steigt heißer Dampf auf.
Hot steam is rising from the boiling pot.
In real life
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