scrap of paper
Loading your saved state.
scrap of paper
A colloquial and often derogatory expression for a piece of paper that is messily written on or seems unimportant. It can refer to a short note or an informal document.
Er hat mir nur einen unleserlichen Wisch mit der Adresse in die Hand gedrückt.
He just pressed an illegible scrap of paper with the address into my hand.
This word is colloquial and has a negative or derogatory meaning. You use it to express that you consider a piece of paper unimportant, messy, or worthless.
Ich soll diesen Wisch unterschreiben? Da steht ja kaum etwas drauf!
I'm supposed to sign this scrap of paper? There's hardly anything on it!
'Der Wisch' (scrap of paper) is related to the verb 'wischen' (to wipe). The meaning comes from the idea that something was only scribbled down quickly and messily, as if someone had just briefly 'gewischt' (wiped) over the paper.
Seine Notizen bestanden nur aus ein paar hingekritzelten Wischen.
His notes consisted only of a few scribbled scraps of paper.
'Wisch' (scrap of paper) is often combined with adjectives that emphasize its dismissive tone, for example 'ein zerknitterter Wisch' (a crumpled scrap of paper), 'ein formloser Wisch' (an informal scrap of paper), or 'ein unleserlicher Wisch' (an illegible scrap of paper).
Er gab mir einen zerknitterten Wisch mit einer Telefonnummer.
He gave me a crumpled scrap of paper with a phone number.
paper
'das Papier' and 'der Wisch' can both mean a piece of paper or a simple document. 'Papier' is the neutral word for the material, or also for official documents, often in the plural as 'Papiere'. 'Wisch' is colloquial and often sounds dismissive: it refers to a messy, unimportant, or annoying sheet of paper. Learners may confuse the words because both can point to something written. A safer rule is: in neutral or official situations, say 'Papier' or 'Dokument'. 'Wisch' only fits in casual everyday speech and can sound impolite.
Den kleinen Wisch mit der Telefonnummer habe ich leider verloren.
Unfortunately, I lost the little scrap of paper with the phone number.
Vor dem Termin legt sie alle Papiere in eine Mappe.
Before the appointment, she puts all the papers in a folder.