burdock
die Klette, die Kletten
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burdock
A plant with large leaves and rounded flower heads whose bracts have small hooks. The mature heads easily cling to clothing or animal fur.
Am Wegrand wächst eine Klette mit großen Blättern und violetten Blüten.
A burdock with large leaves and purple flowers is growing by the side of the path.
burr
A mature, hook-covered head of this plant that easily clings to clothing or animal fur.
Nach dem Spaziergang musste ich mehrere Kletten aus dem Fell meines Hundes entfernen.
After the walk, I had to remove several burrs from my dog's fur.
clingy person
Informally, a person who constantly seeks another person's company and hardly leaves them alone. The term is usually derogatory.
Du bist eine richtige Klette und lässt mich nicht einmal fünf Minuten allein!
You're so clingy, you won't even leave me alone for five minutes!
to cling to someone like a burr
To constantly follow someone or seek their company and hardly separate from them.
Seit dem ersten Kindergartentag hängt der Kleine wie eine Klette an seiner Mutter.
Ever since his first day of kindergarten, the little boy has clung to his mother like a burr.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Kletten |
| genitive | der Klette |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Klette | die Kletten |
| accusative | die Klette | die Kletten |
| dative | der Klette | den Kletten |
| genitive | der Klette | der Kletten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
With 'Klette' (burdock/burr), verbs and accompanying words often indicate which meaning is intended: 'wachsen' (to grow), 'blühen' (to bloom), and 'große Blätter' (large leaves) point to the plant; 'aus dem Fell entfernen' (to remove from fur) or 'an der Kleidung hängen' (to cling to clothing) point to the burr or seed head.
Neben dem Zaun wächst eine Klette mit breiten Blättern.
A burdock with broad leaves is growing beside the fence.
Die Klette hing nach der Wanderung an seiner Jacke.
The burr was clinging to his jacket after the hike.
In the meaning of the hook-covered plant head, 'Klette' (burr) frequently occurs with verbs such as 'im Fell hängen' (to cling to fur), 'aus dem Fell entfernen' (to remove from fur), and 'an der Kleidung hängen' (to cling to clothing).
Nach dem Ausflug hingen der Katze überall Kletten im Fell.
After the outing, burrs were clinging all over the cat's fur.
The figurative meaning referring to a clingy person is informal and usually derogatory. It is often said directly to someone who gives another person hardly any space.
Sei keine Klette und gib deinem Bruder ein bisschen Ruhe.
Don't be so clingy; give your brother some peace and quiet.
In the expression 'wie eine Klette an jemandem hängen' (to cling to someone like a burr), the person after 'an' is in the dative. The expression describes staying close to someone or constantly following them.
Der junge Hund hängt wie eine Klette an seinem Besitzer.
The young dog clings to its owner like a burr.
