cunning
listig – listiger – am listigsten
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cunning
Achieving one's goals through clever, often secret tricks, skillfully deceiving or taking advantage of others in the process.
Der listige Fuchs schlich sich unbemerkt an das Huhn heran.
The cunning fox crept up on the chicken unnoticed.
| basic form | listig |
|---|---|
| comparative | listiger |
| superlative | am listigsten |
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to listig.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to listig.
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to listig.
The adjective 'listig' (cunning) contains the noun 'List' (cunning, trickery). The phrase 'mit List' (through cunning) helps you remember that 'listig' (cunning) involves the skillful use of tricks.
Mit einer listigen Frage brachte sie ihn dazu, sein Geheimnis zu verraten.
With a cunning question, she got him to reveal his secret.
Typical collocations are 'ein listiger Blick' (a cunning look), 'ein listiges Lächeln' (a cunning smile), and 'listig grinsen' (to grin cunningly). These suggest that someone has a secret plan without stating the plan directly.
Als wir nach seinem Plan fragten, grinste er listig.
When we asked about his plan, he grinned cunningly.
In fables and fairy tales, the fox is often described as 'listig' (cunning). The phrase 'ein listiger Fuchs' (a cunning fox) can also refer figuratively to a person; the context shows whether an actual animal is meant.
In der Fabel überredet der listige Fuchs den Raben, den Schnabel zu öffnen.
In the fable, the cunning fox persuades the raven to open its beak.
Unser Nachbar ist ein listiger Fuchs: Beim Verhandeln durchschaut er jeden Trick.
Our neighbor is a cunning fox: he sees through every trick when negotiating.
