Origin of the phrase in question: explanation of its origins
In 1924, German automobile manufacturer Opel introduced the Opel "Laubfrosch", a vehicle that caused quite a stir in the industry. Remarkably, the Opel "Laubfrosch" was an exact copy of the Citroën 5CV, a French automobile.
The similarity between the two cars was so striking that the phrase "Das Gleiche in Grün" gained nationwide popularity. This phrase, meaning "the same thing but in green," originated from a German idiomatic expression, used to describe something similar but presented in a different form or appearance, often with a humorous or ironic tone. The exact historical origin is unclear, but it became widely used in contexts where something was essentially the same despite superficial differences.
Despite the French lawsuit aiming to ban the Opel "Laubfrosch", the court case did not favour France. The court's decision was based on the fact that the Opel "Laubfrosch" was green, while the Citroën 5CV was yellow, thereby reducing the likelihood of confusion. Interestingly, this decision did not affect the nickname "Zitrone" for the Citroën brand, which was given due to its yellow colour.
The court case did not address the fact that the Opel "Laubfrosch" was an exact copy of the Citroën 5CV. However, the phrase "Das Gleiche in Grün" continued to thrive in popularity, and the Opel "Laubfrosch" went on to be a significant part of German automotive history.
Today, the nickname "Zitrone" is still informally used for the Citroën brand, and the phrase "Das Gleiche in Grün" remains a common expression in German language and culture, signifying that two things are essentially the same but differ in nuances. The court case over the Opel "Laubfrosch", which took place in Berlin, remains a fascinating chapter in the history of both automobile manufacturing and linguistic idiomatic expressions.
