German Idioms > German K Idioms > Knoten
German Idioms and Expressions
English also has many "knot" expressions, but the German versions often mean something different from the English. There are also the usual differences between American and British usage. The British expression "tie a knot in your handkerchef" is the same as the German einen Knoten ins Taschentuch machen, but Americans "tie a string around their fingers" to remind them of something. While a "Gordian knot" is the same in German (ein Gordischer Knoten), because it is named for an ancient Greek king, "tying the knot" in German is usually expressed simply as heiraten (to get married).
Even without being used in an idiom, the English word "knot" has more meanings than you probably ever realized:
knot = string or rope tied together
knot = a bond or union; marriage (der Bund; see "tie the knot" below)
knot = lump, knob (der Knoten, die Verdickung)
knot = hair bun (der Haarknoten)
knot = an interlacement of flexible parts
knot = a cluster of persons or things (der Knäuel)
knot = junction, node (der Knotenpunkt)
knot = a tight constriction
knot = something hard to solve (ein Gordischer Knoten)
knot = one nautical mile per hour (der Knoten)
knot = a darker, dense section in a piece of lumber (der Ast)
knot = sandpiper-like bird (Tringa canutus) in the snipe family, also called robin snipe, gray snipe, or red-breasted ash-colored sandpiper
This great variety of meanings is the reason there are many ways to express "knot" in German. Below you'll find a glossary of German and English "knot" words, plus expressions that use "knot" or "Knoten" - with example sentences and explanations where needed.
English "knot" Expressions and Idioms in German
knot (in rope, string)
der Knoten
Web > ScoutNet.de - Knoten & Bünde
knot (in wood)
der Ast, der Knorren, die Verwachsung
knot (verb)
einen Knoten machen, verknoten
knot (verb, stomach)
sich verkrampfen
knot (speed, one nautical mile per hour)
der Knoten
(We're doing / making ten knots. Wir machen zehn Knoten.)
knot of tourists
der Touristenknäuel
knothole
das Astloch
knot together
verknoten
knotty (knotty pine), gnarled
knotig, knorrig
knotty (knotty problem, complicated)
verwickelt, verzwickt
(the / a) Gordian knot (a difficult problem)
der Gordische Knoten
ein Gordischer Knoten
cut the Gordian knot (solve a difficult problem)
den gordischen Knoten durchhauen / lösen
Get knotted! (Br) - Kiss my ***! (Am)
Rutsch mir den Buckel runter! (vulg.)
granny knot
der Altweiberknoten
stomach tied up in knots
(My stomach was all tied up in knots. Mein Magen krampfte sich zusammen.)
tie a string around your finger (Am), tie a knot in your handkerchief (Br)
sich (D) einen Knoten ins Handtuch machen (as a reminder)
Note: The British expression is the same as the German.
tie the knot (get married)
heiraten
(elevated, formal) den Bund der Ehe eingehen
(elevated, formal) den Bund fürs Leben einschließen
tie oneself (up) in knots / in a knot
in Verwirrung geraten; sich (immer tiefer) verstricken
tie sb (up) in knots / in a knot
jdn in Verwirrung bringen, jdn völlig verwirren
Windsor knot (tie)
der Windsorknoten
Web > Krawattenknoten (Wikipedia.de)
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