kneifen
to pinch
To press someone or something firmly with your fingers, usually causing brief pain.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder kneift mich ständig in den Arm.
My brother is always pinching me on the arm.
kneifen
to pinch / to chicken out
kneifen – kniff – hat gekniffen
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Meanings
kneifen
to pinch
To be too tight and therefore cause unpleasant pressure or pain.
EXAMPLE
Diese Schuhe kneifen an den Zehen.
These shoes pinch my toes.
kneifen
to chicken out
Colloquially, to avoid an unpleasant task or situation or to cancel your participation at short notice.
EXAMPLE
Er wollte zuerst mitkommen, aber kurz vor der Reise kniff er.
At first, he wanted to come along, but he chickened out just before the trip.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry kneifen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | kneife |
|---|---|
| du | kneifst |
| er/sie/es | kneift |
| wir | kneifen |
| ihr | kneift |
| sie | kneifen |
Simple past
| ich | kniff |
|---|---|
| du | kniffst |
| er/sie/es | kniff |
| wir | kniffen |
| ihr | knifft |
| sie | kniffen |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gekniffen |
|---|---|
| du | hast gekniffen |
| er/sie/es | hat gekniffen |
| wir | haben gekniffen |
| ihr | habt gekniffen |
| sie | haben gekniffen |
Commands
| du | kneife! kneif! |
|---|---|
| ihr | kneift! |
| Sie | kneifen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gekniffen |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gekniffen |
| er/sie/es | hatte gekniffen |
| wir | hatten gekniffen |
| ihr | hattet gekniffen |
| sie | hatten gekniffen |
Future
| ich | werde kneifen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst kneifen |
| er/sie/es | wird kneifen |
| wir | werden kneifen |
| ihr | werdet kneifen |
| sie | werden kneifen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | kneife |
|---|---|
| du | kneifest |
| er/sie/es | kneife |
| wir | kneifen |
| ihr | kneifet |
| sie | kneifen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | kniffe |
|---|---|
| du | kniffest |
| er/sie/es | kniffe |
| wir | kniffen |
| ihr | kniffet |
| sie | kniffen |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | kneifen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu kneifen |
| present participle | kneifend |
| past participle | gekniffen |
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In this meaning, „kneifen“ (to pinch) is often used with body parts and the preposition „in“ (into): You pinch someone „in den Arm“ (on the arm), „in die Wange“ (on the cheek), or „in die Hand“ (on the hand). The person affected is in the accusative case.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind kneift seinen Vater in die Wange.
The child pinches his father on the cheek.
Clothing as the subject
With clothing or shoes that are too tight, the item itself is the subject of „kneifen“ (to pinch). The painful spot is often named with „an“ (at) and a body part.
EXAMPLE
Der neue Gürtel kneift mich unangenehm am Bauch.
The new belt pinches me uncomfortably around the stomach.
Colloquial usage
This meaning is colloquial and is often used for canceling at short notice just before an unpleasant situation. „Kneifen“ (to chicken out) can be used without an object.
EXAMPLE
Kurz vor dem Vorstellungsgespräch kniff er und schaltete sein Handy aus.
He chickened out just before the job interview and turned off his phone.
In real life
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