der Muff
Translation
muff, musty smell, sulk, bad mood
Examples
Sie wärmte ihre Hände in einem Muff.
She warmed her hands in a muff.
In dem alten Keller roch es nach Muff.
It smelled musty in the old cellar.
Er hatte heute einen richtigen Muff.
He was in a real sulk today.
Grammar Patterns
to have ((a sulk)) (to be in a bad mood) He had a real sulk today.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Mief (stink), Gestank (stench), schlechte Laune (bad mood); Antonyms: Duft (fragrance), gute Laune (good mood)
Etymology
Derived from Middle Low German 'muffe'. The sense of 'sulkiness' is a metaphorical transfer from the idea of a stuffy, unpleasant atmosphere.
Memory Tips
Think of an English 'muffin' that's gone stale and has a 'muffig' (musty) smell, putting you in a 'Muff' (bad mood).