der Karren
cart
A simple vehicle, usually with two wheels, pulled by hand or by an animal to transport loads.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner transportierte die Erde mit einem Karren.
The gardener transported the soil with a cart.
der Karren
cart / old banger
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Karren
old banger
Colloquial and often derogatory for an old, run-down car.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss diesen alten Karren endlich mal in die Werkstatt bringen.
I really need to finally take this old banger to the garage.
den Karren aus dem Dreck ziehen
to pull things out of the mire
To resolve a difficult, stuck situation through decisive action.
EXAMPLE
Nachdem der Projektleiter gekündigt hatte, musste seine Nachfolgerin den Karren aus dem Dreck ziehen.
After the project manager resigned, his successor had to pull things out of the mire.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the colloquial meaning 'altes Auto' (old car) from context. It is often used with derogatory adjectives like 'alt' (old) or 'rostig' (rusty). The original meaning refers to simple carts that you find, for example, in gardening or agriculture.
EXAMPLE
Er muss seinen alten Karren endlich verkaufen.
He really needs to finally sell his old banger.
Colloquial use
The term 'Karren' for a car is colloquial and usually meant negatively or derogatorily. It describes an old, noisy, or unreliable vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem rostigen Karren will ich nicht in den Urlaub fahren.
I don't want to go on vacation in this rusty old banger.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'den Karren aus dem Dreck ziehen' (to pull the cart out of the dirt / to pull things out of the mire) is fixed. The person who solves the problem is the subject of the sentence, while 'den Karren' is the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Das Team war in einer Krise, aber die neue Managerin hat den Karren aus dem Dreck gezogen.
The team was in crisis, but the new manager pulled things out of the mire.
Typical verbs
In its literal meaning, 'der Karren' (the cart) is often used with verbs such as 'ziehen' (to pull), 'schieben' (to push), or 'beladen' (to load), which describe transporting loads.
EXAMPLE
Zwei Pferde zogen den schweren Karren den Berg hinauf.
Two horses pulled the heavy cart up the mountain.
Compare with
Karren vs Karre
car / cart
Both der Karren and die Karre can be colloquial, derogatory terms for an old or bad car. However, they are two nouns with fixed grammatical genders: you say either der Karren or die Karre and adjust the articles and adjectives accordingly.
Karren
Der alte Karren springt heute schon wieder nicht an.
The old banger won't start again today.
Karre
Die alte Karre springt heute schon wieder nicht an.
The old car won't start again today.
In real life
Loading video examples...