blow / screw loose
der Hau, die Haue
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to have a screw loose
Colloquial and derogatory: to not be quite in one's right mind or to behave strangely and unreasonably.
Du hast wohl einen Hau, bei dem Sturm aufs Dach zu steigen!
You must have a screw loose if you're climbing onto the roof in this storm!
blow
Regionally, a term for a hit or blow.
Er gab ihm einen kräftigen Hau auf den Rücken.
He gave him a powerful blow on the back.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Haue |
| genitive | des Haues |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Hau | die Haue |
| accusative | den Hau | die Haue |
| dative | dem Hau | den Hauen |
| genitive | des Haues des Haus | der Haue |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The meaning of „Hau“ (blow / screw loose) can usually be recognized from the context: The fixed expression „einen Hau haben“ (to have a screw loose) belongs to the colloquial meaning „nicht ganz bei Verstand sein“ (to not be quite in one's right mind), while references to a hit, for example with „geben“ (to give) or „bekommen“ (to receive), point to the meaning „Hieb“ (blow).
Als der Nachbar um Mitternacht den Rasen mähte, dachte ich nur: Der hat echt einen Hau.
When the neighbor was mowing the lawn at midnight, I could only think: He really has a screw loose.
Mit einem einzigen Hau spaltete er das Holzscheit.
With a single blow, he split the log.
In this meaning, „Hau“ (screw loose) almost always appears in the fixed expression „einen Hau haben“ (to have a screw loose). The person behaving strangely is the subject, while „einen Hau“ is in the accusative case.
Du hast doch einen Hau, wenn du freiwillig in den eiskalten See springst.
You must have a screw loose if you willingly jump into the freezing cold lake.
The meaning „Schlag“ (blow) is regionally restricted and is therefore not known throughout the German-speaking world. In regional texts or conversations, „Hau“ (blow) can be combined with details about the part of the body that was hit or the force of the blow.
Der kräftige Hau gegen die Tür war bis zum Nachbarhaus zu hören.
The powerful blow against the door could be heard as far as the neighboring house.
