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Lesson 235 of 240

New here? This is lesson 235 of a free 240-lesson German course.

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Let it rest in German

Anton starts talking about the key in the Fundkiste, then stops himself. Priya does not push, and the box stays shut.

You will close a point without slamming the door: that's it, enough for now, another time.

These lines keep a chat warm when you are done. They work with friends, and they use du.

Keep the Fundkiste shut; the key is not a puzzle to force today.

By the end of this lesson

Close a topic with grace, and leave a subject for another time.

  • Also ja, das war's eigentlich.So yeah, that's basically it.
  • Ich will dich nicht mit Details langweilen.I don't want to bore you with the details.
  • Na gut, genug dazu.Anyway, enough said.
  • Lassen wir das Thema erst mal ruhen.Let's let that subject rest for now.
  • So viel dazu von meiner Seite.That's all from me on that.
  • Darüber sprechen wir ein andermal.We'll talk about that another time.

Scene — the corner table

Late afternoon at Bäckerei Krause. Priya sits at the corner table with Anton, whose Milchkaffee is still full.

Renate wipes the counter. The Fundkiste behind her is shut. Anton glances at it, then begins a story without opening the box.

Priya sits at the corner table while Anton nods toward the empty chair and Renate wipes the counter beside the shut Fundkiste.

Learn — close a topic kindly

Six lines help you stop a topic without sounding cold.

You will wrap up, skip the details, and leave a subject for another day.

  1. Anton turns his attention away from the shut Fundkiste instead of beginning a long story.

    Also ja, das war's eigentlich.

    So yeah, that's basically it.

    When to use it: Use this when you have said enough and want to stop.

    War's is a spoken contraction of war es; learn the whole wrap-up as a useful piece.

    Say it: Eigentlich uses the ich-sound of ch, not the ach-sound.

  2. Anton makes a small stopping gesture beside his untouched Milchkaffee as Priya listens across the table.

    Ich will dich nicht mit Details langweilen.

    I don't want to bore you with the details.

    When to use it: Use this to skip extra details when talking with a friend.

    Dich is informal; use it with friends rather than strangers or staff.

  3. From behind Priya, Anton gently shakes his head while the full Milchkaffee remains between them.

    Na gut, genug dazu.

    Anyway, enough said.

    When to use it: Use this to stop a point without opening a new one.

    Na gut softens the stop; it does not introduce the next topic.

  4. Anton leans back with both hands flat on the table while Renate continues wiping the counter in the background.

    Lassen wir das Thema erst mal ruhen.

    Let's let that subject rest for now.

    When to use it: Use this when you both should leave a subject alone for now.

    Lassen wir makes this a shared suggestion, rather than an order.

  5. Anton looks down at his full Milchkaffee and pauses at the corner table.

    So viel dazu von meiner Seite.

    That's all from me on that.

    When to use it: Use this to close your own contribution to a point.

    Von meiner Seite marks what you have to say, not a request for the other person to continue.

    Say it: Meiner ends with a light -er sound, not a strong r.

  6. Anton turns toward the sunlit bakery window, leaving the shut Fundkiste behind him.

    Darüber sprechen wir ein andermal.

    We'll talk about that another time.

    When to use it: Use this to delay a topic without shutting the person out.

    Sprechen follows darüber, keeping the verb second in this main clause.

    Say it: At the start of sprechen, sp sounds like sh plus p.

Story — the box stays shut

Anton begins a story about the key, and Priya lets him leave it there. The conversation moves on to coffee, work, and the day's journey.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. The coffee machine hisses. Anton nods toward the empty chair beside him.
  2. AntonSetz dich. Der Milchkaffee ist noch da.Have a seat. The milk coffee is still here.
  3. PriyaDanke. Du wolltest mir etwas über den Schlüssel erzählen, oder?Thanks. You wanted to tell me something about the key, didn't you?
  4. AntonSagen wir mal so. Der Schlüssel in der Kiste liegt da schon ewig.Let's put it this way. The key in the box has been there forever.
  5. PriyaUnd dann?And then?
  6. AntonLassen wir das Thema erst mal ruhen.Let's let that subject rest for now.
  7. PriyaJa, gern. Die Fundkiste bleibt zu.Yes, gladly. The lost-property box stays shut.
  8. RenateGut. Dann bleibt der Deckel unten.Good. Then the lid stays down.
  9. Renate sets down a clean cup. Anton's own coffee remains untouched.
  10. PriyaDer Kaffee riecht gut. Ist er noch warm?The coffee smells good. Is it still warm?
  11. RenateNoch. Anton lässt ihn trotzdem stehen.For now. Anton still leaves it sitting there.
  12. AntonNa gut, genug dazu.Anyway, enough said.
  13. RenateWie war dein Weg hierher, Priya?How was your trip here, Priya?
  14. PriyaDie U-Bahn war voll, aber die Fahrt ging schnell. Also ja, das war's eigentlich.The U-Bahn was crowded, but the ride was quick. So yeah, that's basically it.
  15. AntonUnd dein Meeting heute?And your meeting today?
  16. PriyaWir haben einen Plan für die App. Ich will dich nicht mit Details langweilen.We have a plan for the app. I don't want to bore you with the details.
  17. AntonDas reicht mir völlig. Gute Arbeit.That's plenty for me. Good work.
  18. RenateDer neue Ofen läuft wieder. So viel dazu von meiner Seite.The new oven is working again. That's all from me on that.
  19. PriyaUnd was machst du morgen, Anton?And what are you doing tomorrow, Anton?
  20. AntonDarüber sprechen wir ein andermal.We'll talk about that another time.
  21. PriyaNa gut. Ich hole mir noch eine Schrippe.All right. I'll get myself another roll.

Practice — enough for now

Ten short exercises wait here. You will listen, build, spot a mistake, and choose a fitting reply.

They stay on closing a topic, not on starting a new one.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. What do you say?

    A friend asks for every detail of your long story. Skip the extra detail so you do not bore them.

  3. What does it mean?

    Also ja, das war's eigentlich.

  4. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Über den Schlüssel habe ich dir jetzt alles gesagt.

    I've now told you everything about the key.

    And you reply with:

  5. What did you hear?

  6. Swap the word

    You will talk about the subject another time, not tomorrow.

    Darüber sprechen wir ____.

  7. Build the line

    Let's let that subject rest for now.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  8. Find the mistake

  9. True or false?

    This phrase can introduce a point before you explain it.

  10. Which one doesn’t belong?

Say it — let it rest

Now you're Priya at the corner table. Anton starts on a subject, and you can choose a warm way to leave it for now.

Tap the microphone when it's your turn to speak. Tap the play button first if you want to hear the line.

  1. AntonSoll ich dir die ganze Geschichte erzählen?Should I tell you the whole story?
  2. Priya (you)Suggest that you both leave the subject alone for now.

    Lassen wir das Thema erst mal ruhen.

    Let's let that subject rest for now.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Also ja, das war's eigentlich.So yeah, that's basically it.
Ich will dich nicht mit Details langweilen.I don't want to bore you with the details.
Na gut, genug dazu.Anyway, enough said.
Lassen wir das Thema erst mal ruhen.Let's let that subject rest for now.
So viel dazu von meiner Seite.That's all from me on that.
Darüber sprechen wir ein andermal.We'll talk about that another time.
Next: lesson 236Retelling the year

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