bekleckern
to splatter
To make something dirty with blobs or small splashes, especially with liquid or food.
EXAMPLE
Beim Streichen hat er den Boden mit Farbe bekleckert.
While painting, he splattered paint all over the floor.
bekleckern
to splatter
bekleckern – bekleckerte – hat bekleckert
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Meanings
sich mit Ruhm bekleckern
to cover oneself with glory
To gain recognition or honor through an achievement; this expression is usually used in the negative or ironically when someone has achieved little.
EXAMPLE
Mit dieser Entscheidung hat sich der Vorstand nicht gerade mit Ruhm bekleckert.
With this decision, the board did not exactly cover itself with glory.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry bekleckern, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | bekleckere bekleckre |
|---|---|
| du | bekleckerst |
| er/sie/es | bekleckert |
| wir | bekleckern |
| ihr | bekleckert |
| sie | bekleckern |
Simple past
| ich | bekleckerte |
|---|---|
| du | bekleckertest |
| er/sie/es | bekleckerte |
| wir | bekleckerten |
| ihr | bekleckertet |
| sie | bekleckerten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe bekleckert |
|---|---|
| du | hast bekleckert |
| er/sie/es | hat bekleckert |
| wir | haben bekleckert |
| ihr | habt bekleckert |
| sie | haben bekleckert |
Commands
| du | beklecker! bekleckere!, bekleckre! |
|---|---|
| ihr | bekleckert! |
| Sie | bekleckern Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte bekleckert |
|---|---|
| du | hattest bekleckert |
| er/sie/es | hatte bekleckert |
| wir | hatten bekleckert |
| ihr | hattet bekleckert |
| sie | hatten bekleckert |
Future
| ich | werde bekleckern |
|---|---|
| du | wirst bekleckern |
| er/sie/es | wird bekleckern |
| wir | werden bekleckern |
| ihr | werdet bekleckern |
| sie | werden bekleckern |
Subjunctive I
| ich | bekleckere bekleckre |
|---|---|
| du | bekleckerst |
| er/sie/es | bekleckere bekleckre |
| wir | bekleckern |
| ihr | bekleckert |
| sie | bekleckern |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | bekleckerte |
|---|---|
| du | bekleckertest |
| er/sie/es | bekleckerte |
| wir | bekleckerten |
| ihr | bekleckertet |
| sie | bekleckerten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | bekleckern |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu bekleckern |
| present participle | bekleckernd |
| past participle | bekleckert |
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Bekleckern' (to splatter) has the prefix 'be-' and is therefore not separable. In a main clause, the prefix remains attached to the verb; the verb also stays together in a subordinate clause.
EXAMPLE
Beim Basteln bekleckerte sie den Tisch mit Klebstoff.
While doing crafts, she splattered glue all over the table.
Typical collocations
In this meaning, 'bekleckern' (to splatter) is often used with a surface or object as the accusative object and with 'mit' (with) to indicate the liquid or substance.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund bekleckerte den Teppich mit nassem Schlamm.
The dog splattered the carpet with wet mud.
Fixed expression
'Sich mit Ruhm bekleckern' (to cover oneself with glory) is a fixed expression and is usually used in the negative or ironically. It often refers to an achievement, a decision, or someone's behavior.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner verspäteten Antwort hat sich der Sprecher nicht mit Ruhm bekleckert.
With his late reply, the spokesperson did not cover himself with glory.
In real life
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