crank
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crank
A technical component consisting of a handle and an arm that transfers force to a shaft through a rotating movement in order to drive or operate a machine.
Bei alten Autos musste man die Fenster noch mit einer Kurbel öffnen und schließen.
In old cars, you still had to open and close the windows with a crank.
The noun 'die Kurbel' (the crank) is closely related to the verb 'kurbeln' (to crank). This means to perform a rotating movement in order to drive or operate something.
Er musste kräftig kurbeln, um den alten Motor zu starten.
He had to crank hard to start the old engine.
You can recognize the technical meaning from the fact that 'die Kurbel' (the crank) is used as a normal noun in the sentence. The idiomatic meaning occurs only in the fixed expression 'einen an der Kurbel haben' (to have a screw loose).
Die Kurbel an der Markise ist abgebrochen.
The crank on the awning has broken off.
A crank is often associated with older, manually operated devices, for example old coffee grinders, window winders in cars, or mechanical toys.
Meine Oma mahlt ihren Kaffee noch mit einer alten Mühle mit Kurbel.
My grandma still grinds her coffee with an old grinder with a crank.
The expression 'einen an der Kurbel haben' (to have a screw loose) is a fixed idiom. The structure is always the same: the person described as crazy is the subject of the verb 'haben' (to have).
Er will im Winter im See schwimmen? Der hat doch einen an der Kurbel!
He wants to swim in the lake in winter? He must have a screw loose!
The idiom 'einen an der Kurbel haben' (to have a screw loose) is colloquial and is considered somewhat outdated today. Younger people use it less often, but most still understand it.
Mein Opa sagt manchmal über Politiker, sie hätten alle einen an der Kurbel.
My grandpa sometimes says about politicians that they all have a screw loose.
handle / grip
'der Griff' and 'die Kurbel' can both have to do with operating an object. 'der Griff' is generally the part that you hold. 'die Kurbel' is a technical part with a handle and an arm that you turn so that something moves or works. It is easy to mix up the words because a crank has a handle. But the handle by itself does not have to rotate. If a turning motion is important, you say 'Kurbel'. If it is only about grasping or holding something, you say 'Griff'.
Selma drehte die Kurbel am Fenster, bis es ganz offen war.
Selma turned the crank on the window until it was fully open.
Der Griff der alten Tür ist locker und muss repariert werden.
The handle of the old door is loose and needs to be repaired.