wink
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with a wink
An indication that a statement is not meant completely seriously, but contains humor, irony, or a hidden joke.
Er erzählte die Geschichte mit einem Augenzwinkern, also sollte man nicht jedes Detail glauben.
He told the story with a wink, so you shouldn't believe every detail.
The word is a nominalization of the verb 'zwinkern' (to wink) and is made up of 'Auge' (eye) and 'Zwinkern' (winking). So it literally describes the action of winking with the eye.
Ihr Lächeln und ein schnelles Augenzwinkern zeigten, dass sie einverstanden war.
Her smile and a quick wink showed that she agreed.
The figurative meaning is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'mit einem Augenzwinkern' (with a wink). It expresses that a statement is meant humorously or ironically and should not be taken literally.
Er sagte, er sei der beste Koch der Welt, aber das war natürlich mit einem Augenzwinkern gemeint.
He said he was the best cook in the world, but of course that was meant with a wink.
When 'Augenzwinkern' (wink) is not used in the fixed expression 'mit einem Augenzwinkern' (with a wink), it almost always refers to the concrete physical action. It is often combined with verbs like 'sehen' (to see), 'erwidern' (to return), or 'zuwerfen' (to give someone).
Der Verkäufer warf mir ein verschwörerisches Augenzwinkern zu.
The salesman gave me a conspiratorial wink.
humor
'der Humor' and 'das Augenzwinkern' can both show that something is not meant entirely seriously. 'Humor' is the general ability or way of finding something funny or making others laugh. In this relation, 'Augenzwinkern' is more of a signal: a statement contains a small joke, irony, or friendly distance. People often say 'mit einem Augenzwinkern' (with a wink). So 'Humor' describes the funny attitude or effect, while 'Augenzwinkern' shows that you should not take a statement too seriously.
Mit einem Augenzwinkern sagte Paul, dass er natürlich der beste Koch der Familie sei.
With a wink, Paul said that of course he was the best cook in the family.
Ihr Humor hilft dem Team, auch an stressigen Tagen zu lachen.
Her humor helps the team laugh even on stressful days.