cotton wool
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cotton wool
A soft, fluffy material, usually made of cotton, that is used for medical, cosmetic, or hygienic purposes.
Sie benutzte einen Wattebausch, um den Nagellack zu entfernen.
She used a cotton ball to remove the nail polish.
'Watte' (cotton wool) is usually an uncountable noun, similar to 'Wasser' (water) or 'Sand' (sand). You therefore say 'etwas Watte' (some cotton wool) or 'ein Stück Watte' (a piece of cotton wool), but not 'eine Watte'.
Für die Wundreinigung brauchst du etwas Watte und Desinfektionsmittel.
For cleaning the wound, you need some cotton wool and disinfectant.
To name individual portions or forms of cotton wool, compound nouns are often used. The most common are 'der Wattebausch' (cotton ball), 'das Wattepad' (cotton pad), and 'das Wattestäbchen' (cotton swab).
Sie reinigt ihr Gesicht jeden Abend mit einem Wattepad.
She cleans her face every evening with a cotton pad.
The idiom 'jemanden in Watte packen' (to wrap someone in cotton wool) has a fixed structure. The person who is being overprotected is always in the accusative.
Man sollte seine Kinder lieben, aber sie nicht ständig in Watte packen.
You should love your children, but not constantly wrap them in cotton wool.
This idiom is almost always used critically. It expresses that excessive protection harms a person because it prevents them from having important experiences of their own.
Er wurde als Kind so sehr in Watte gepackt, dass er heute mit Problemen nicht umgehen kann.
As a child, he was wrapped in cotton wool so much that today he can't deal with problems.
wool
'Wolle' and 'Watte' can both be soft, but they are used in different situations. 'Wolle' is animal hair or yarn from which, for example, clothing is knitted or fabric is made. 'Watte' is a soft, fluffy material, often made of cotton, that is used for wounds, cosmetics, or hygiene. The words can be confused because both materials seem soft and fibrous. For sweaters, scarves, and knitting, you say 'Wolle'; for doctors, care, or removing makeup, you usually say 'Watte'.
Die Ärztin legt etwas Watte auf die kleine Wunde.
The doctor places some cotton wool on the small wound.
Er hat neue Wolle gekauft, weil er einen warmen Schal stricken möchte.
He bought new wool because he wants to knit a warm scarf.