dust
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dust
Very fine, dry particles of dirt, earth, or other materials that settle on surfaces or float in the air.
Nach dem Urlaub lag eine dicke Schicht Staub auf allen Möbeln.
After the vacation, a thick layer of dust lay on all the furniture.
to kick up dust
An idiom meaning to cause excitement, unrest, or controversy.
Seine Enthüllungen haben in der Politik ordentlich Staub aufgewirbelt.
His revelations kicked up quite a bit of dust in politics.
to make off
A colloquial idiom meaning to disappear or flee secretly and quickly.
Als die Polizei kam, hat er sich schnell aus dem Staub gemacht.
When the police arrived, he quickly made off.
'Staub' (dust) is an uncountable noun and is almost always used in the singular. You say 'viel Staub' (a lot of dust) or 'eine Schicht Staub' (a layer of dust), but not 'Stauben'.
Überall im alten Haus war viel Staub.
There was a lot of dust everywhere in the old house.
In everyday life, dust is either removed with a cloth or sucked up with a device. The typical verbs for this are 'Staub wischen' (to dust) and 'Staub saugen' (to vacuum).
Ich muss heute unbedingt noch Staub wischen.
I absolutely still have to dust today.
The idiom 'Staub aufwirbeln' means to cause excitement or discussion. The subject is the person or thing that causes the unrest.
Der Artikel des Journalisten hat in der Regierung viel Staub aufgewirbelt.
The journalist's article kicked up a lot of dust in the government.
The colloquial expression 'sich aus dem Staub machen' (to make off) is reflexive. That means it always needs a reflexive pronoun (mich, dich, sich, etc.) that matches the person who is disappearing.
Der Dieb machte sich schnell aus dem Staub, bevor jemand ihn sehen konnte.
The thief quickly made off before anyone could see him.
dirt / crap
Dreck and Staub can both refer to an irritating substance that has made a surface dirty. Staub more precisely refers to fine, dry particles and sounds neutral, whereas Dreck is colloquial and expresses an evaluation of the uncleanliness. Use Staub when referring to the substance itself, and Dreck when the dirt is mainly perceived as irritating or substantial.
Nach dem Umzug lag überall feiner Staub auf dem Boden.
After the move, there was fine dust all over the floor.
Nach dem Umzug lag überall Dreck auf dem Boden.
After the move, there was dirt all over the floor.
