das Dickicht
thicket
An area with very densely and impenetrably grown shrubs, bushes, and small trees.
EXAMPLE
Das Reh verschwand im dichten Dickicht am Waldrand.
The deer disappeared into the dense thicket at the edge of the forest.
das Dickicht
thicket
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Meanings
das Dickicht
thicket
A confusing, bewildering, and complex situation or collection of things.
EXAMPLE
Ich finde mich in diesem Dickicht aus Paragrafen und Vorschriften nicht mehr zurecht.
I can no longer find my way through this thicket of paragraphs and regulations.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Dickicht' (thicket) is derived from the adjective 'dick' (thick). The ending '-icht' is used in German to refer to a collection or group of something. A 'Dickicht' is therefore literally a collection of something thick, here densely growing plants.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner schnitt eine Lücke in das dichte Dickicht.
The gardener cut a gap into the dense thicket.
Typical prepositions
In the literal meaning, the prepositions are important for describing location and movement. You hide 'im Dickicht' (in the thicket, dative), you run 'ins Dickicht' (into the thicket, accusative), or you fight your way 'durch das Dickicht' (through the thicket, accusative).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder spielten Verstecken im Dickicht hinter dem Haus.
The children played hide-and-seek in the thicket behind the house.
Usage pattern
In the figurative meaning, 'Dickicht' (thicket) is almost always used with the prepositions 'aus' (of/from) or 'von' (of) and a plural noun. This structure describes a confusing mass of something abstract.
EXAMPLE
Er verirrte sich im Dickicht der Vorschriften.
He got lost in the thicket of regulations.
Compare with
Dickicht vs Wald
forest
Wald can figuratively refer to a large, hard-to-survey mass and emphasizes the sheer multitude. Dickicht also describes something difficult to make sense of, but places more emphasis on close interconnections and the difficulty of working through them. Wald is suitable for many similar elements; Dickicht is more appropriate for complicated relationships.
Dickicht
Ohne Beratung fand sie sich im Dickicht der Vorschriften und Formulare kaum zurecht.
Without advice, she could hardly find her way through the thicket of rules and forms.
Wald
Vor ihr lag ein Wald aus Vorschriften und Formularen.
A forest of rules and forms lay before her.
In real life
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