pot
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pot
A round, deep piece of cookware, usually made of metal, used for cooking, frying, or braising food on the stove.
Stell bitte den großen Topf für die Nudeln auf den Herd.
Please put the large pot for the pasta on the stove.
The meaning of 'Topf' (pot) is almost always clear from context. Words like 'kochen' (to cook) or 'Herd' (stove) point to a cooking pot, 'Pflanze' (plant) or 'Erde' (soil) to a flowerpot, and 'Geld' (money) or 'Förderung' (funding) to the metaphorical meaning.
Wir brauchen Erde, um die Blume in den neuen Topf zu pflanzen.
We need soil to plant the flower in the new pot.
In connection with cooking, 'Topf' (pot) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical actions are to 'auf den Herd stellen' (put a pot on the stove), 'vom Herd nehmen' (take it off the stove), or 'im Topf kochen' (cook something in the pot).
Kannst du bitte den Topf mit der Suppe vom Herd nehmen?
Can you please take the pot of soup off the stove?
In the figurative meaning, 'Topf' (pot) stands for a budget or sum of money that has been collected for a specific purpose. People often speak of a 'Fördertopf' (funding pot), 'Geldtopf' (money pot), or 'Lostopf' (lottery pot).
Alle Bewerber für das Stipendium kommen in denselben Topf.
All applicants for the scholarship go into the same pot.
The sentence 'Jeder Topf findet seinen Deckel' (every pot finds its lid) is a well-known German proverb. It is used to express that there is the right partner for everyone.
Sei nicht traurig, dass du Single bist. Jeder Topf findet seinen Deckel.
Don't be sad that you're single. There's someone for everyone.
checkout / cash register
'die Kasse' and 'der Topf' can both mean, in a figurative sense, money that is available for something. 'Kasse' sounds like the available funds of an organization, club, or project. 'Topf' more often means a specific budget for a fixed purpose, from which money can be taken. The words can be confused because in both cases you are talking about money. 'Kasse' is more natural when it is about the general amount of money available; 'Topf' fits better when money is clearly reserved for a specific area.
Für neue Computer gibt es in diesem Jahr einen eigenen Topf.
This year there is a separate funding pot for new computers.
Nach dem Sommerfest war genug Geld in der Kasse des Vereins.
After the summer festival, there was enough money in the club's funds.