dragon / kite
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dragon
A large, reptile-like mythical creature that often has wings and can breathe fire.
In der Geschichte kämpft der Ritter gegen einen gefährlichen Drachen, um die Prinzessin zu retten.
In the story, the knight fights a dangerous dragon in order to save the princess.
kite
A toy made of paper or fabric on a frame that you let rise into the air in the wind on a long string.
Im Herbst lassen die Kinder auf der Wiese ihre bunten Drachen steigen.
In autumn, the children fly their colorful kites in the meadow.
dragon
A derogatory, colloquial term for a quarrelsome, bossy, and unpleasant woman.
Seine neue Chefin ist ein echter Drache, bei ihr hat niemand etwas zu lachen.
His new boss is a real dragon; no one has anything to laugh about with her.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Drache' (dragon/kite) from the context. If it is about fairy tales, fantasy, or fire, it means the mythical creature. If it is about wind, autumn, and a string, it means the toy. If someone is describing a person negatively, it means the colloquial insult.
Der Held der Geschichte muss einen Drachen besiegen.
The hero of the story has to defeat a dragon.
In its meaning as a mythical creature, 'Drache' (dragon) is often connected with the verb 'speien' (to spew/breathe), especially 'Feuer speien' (to breathe fire), or with verbs of fighting such as 'kämpfen' (to fight) or 'töten' (to kill).
Der Drache bewachte einen Schatz in seiner Höhle und konnte Feuer speien.
The dragon guarded a treasure in its cave and could breathe fire.
When referring to the toy, the fixed expression 'einen Drachen steigen lassen' (to fly a kite) is almost always used. This combination is the clearest clue to this meaning.
Am Wochenende gehen wir auf die Wiese und lassen unseren Drachen steigen.
At the weekend we're going to the meadow and flying our kite.
Using 'Drache' (dragon) for a woman is strongly colloquial and derogatory. It is an insult and should, if used at all, be used only with great caution.
Er nannte seine Schwiegermutter hinter ihrem Rücken einen Drachen.
He called his mother-in-law a dragon behind her back.
bitch / nanny goat
Der Drache and die Zicke are colloquial, derogatory words for a woman perceived as unpleasant. Der Drache particularly emphasizes bossy and quarrelsome behavior, while die Zicke can also describe someone who is moody or stubborn. Choose Drache for dominant behavior and Zicke for generally difficult behavior.
Alle im Team nennen sie heimlich einen Drachen, weil sie ständig herrische Befehle gibt.
Everyone on the team secretly calls her a dragon because she is constantly giving bossy orders.
Alle halten sie für eine Zicke, weil sie heute wegen jeder Kleinigkeit streitet.
Everyone thinks she is a bitch because she is arguing over every little thing today.
