knickknacks / fuss
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knickknacks
Colloquial term for unnecessary, often small and worthless objects that serve only as decoration or are perceived as superfluous. It has a slightly derogatory meaning.
Räum bitte den ganzen Schnickschnack von deinem Schreibtisch, ich brauche Platz.
Please clear all that knickknack stuff off your desk; I need space.
The word is a reduplication, meaning a word is doubled ('Schnick' and 'Schnack'). In German, such forms are often used for colloquial, slightly derogatory, or playful terms for a disordered collection of things.
Was ist dieser ganze Schnickschnack auf dem Tisch?
What is all this knickknack stuff on the table?
'Schnickschnack' is almost always used as an uncountable word in the singular. You speak of 'ganzen Schnickschnack' (all the knickknacks / all that stuff) as a mass, not of individual 'Schnickschnacks'.
Ich mag keine Geschenke mit so viel Schnickschnack.
I don't like gifts with so much unnecessary stuff.
This word clearly belongs to colloquial speech and has a slightly negative or mocking undertone. It expresses that you consider something unnecessary or superfluous.
Das neue Handy hat viele Funktionen, aber ich finde das meiste ist nur Schnickschnack.
The new phone has many features, but I think most of them are just gimmicks.
Whether unnecessary things or unnecessary complications are meant can be recognized from the verb. Verbs like 'wegräumen' (to clear away) or 'kaufen' (to buy) point to objects, while the phrase 'einen Schnickschnack machen' (to make a fuss) refers to superfluous behavior.
Bitte räum deinen Schnickschnack vom Sofa.
Please clear your stuff off the sofa.
In the meaning of 'unnötige Umstände' (unnecessary complications), the word is often used in fixed expressions. Very common are 'ohne (viel) Schnickschnack' (without much fuss) or 'einen Schnickschnack um etwas machen' (to make a fuss about something).
Erkläre es mir bitte einfach und ohne Schnickschnack.
Please explain it to me simply and without fuss.
gimmick / child's play
'Schnickschnack' and 'Spielerei' can both mean something that is not really necessary. 'Schnickschnack' often sounds negative and is especially used for small, unnecessary things, decoration, or needless formalities. 'Spielerei' is used more for something that is fun or looks interesting but has little practical use. Learners may confuse the words because both express: you do not absolutely need this. If something is just sitting around or is unnecessarily complicated, 'Schnickschnack' fits better. If something seems more like a nice extra or a small experiment, 'Spielerei' sounds more natural.
Für die Feier brauchen wir keinen teuren Schnickschnack, ein paar Blumen reichen.
We don't need expensive knickknacks for the party; a few flowers are enough.
Die neue Kamera im Handy ist eine nette Spielerei, aber ich benutze sie kaum.
The new camera on the phone is a nice gimmick, but I hardly use it.