cuckoo
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cuckoo
A species of bird known for its characteristic two-syllable call and for laying its eggs in the nests of other birds to be raised there.
Wenn man im Frühling den Kuckuck rufen hört, soll man Geld im Portemonnaie haben.
When you hear the cuckoo calling in spring, you are supposed to have money in your wallet.
seizure sticker
A colloquial term for the seizure seal, a sticker that a bailiff places on seized items.
Der Gerichtsvollzieher war da und hat einen Kuckuck auf den Fernseher geklebt.
The bailiff was here and stuck a seizure sticker on the television.
the heck
A colloquial expression that conveys annoyance, impatience, or surprise.
Wo zum Kuckuck sind schon wieder meine Autoschlüssel?
Where the heck are my car keys again?
You can recognize the meaning from context: if people are talking about the animal, it is often about the forest or its call. If the topic is debts or a 'Gerichtsvollzieher' (bailiff), it means the seizure seal. The fixed expression 'zum Kuckuck' (the heck) always expresses annoyance or surprise.
Im Wald hörten wir plötzlich einen Kuckuck rufen.
In the forest, we suddenly heard a cuckoo calling.
The name of the bird is onomatopoeic. That means the word imitates the bird's characteristic 'ku-ckuck' call.
Kinder lernen den Ruf des Kuckucks meist sehr schnell.
Children usually learn the cuckoo's call very quickly.
In this meaning, 'Kuckuck' (seizure sticker) is a colloquial expression. The official legal term for the bailiff's sticker is 'das Pfandsiegel' (seizure seal).
Wenn der Kuckuck erst einmal auf dem Auto klebt, darf man es nicht mehr verkaufen.
Once the seizure sticker is on the car, you are no longer allowed to sell it.
The expression 'zum Kuckuck' (the heck) is a fixed idiom. It often appears in questions or commands to express impatience and annoyance.
Geh zum Kuckuck und lass mich in Ruhe!
Go to hell and leave me alone!
devil
Both words occur in colloquial exclamations that express annoyance or impatience. However, the fixed expressions are “zum Teufel” and “zum Kuckuck”. Depending on the expression you want to use, you therefore need to use the appropriate phrase in full.
Zum Kuckuck, wo ist denn schon wieder mein Schlüssel?
Where the heck is my key again?
Zum Teufel, wo ist denn schon wieder mein Schlüssel?
Where the devil is my key again?
