machete
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machete
A large, heavy knife with a broad blade, used especially in tropical regions as a tool for cutting plants such as sugar cane or for clearing paths through the jungle.
Mit einer Machete schlug er sich einen Pfad durch das dichte Unterholz.
With a machete, he cut a path through the dense undergrowth.
A very common and vivid expression with this word is 'sich mit einer Machete einen Weg bahnen' (to make one's way with a machete) or 'sich einen Weg schlagen' (to cut a path for oneself). This describes the difficult progress through dense vegetation.
Die Forscher mussten sich mit Macheten einen Weg durch den Dschungel bahnen.
The researchers had to make their way through the jungle with machetes.
As a tool, the machete is almost always used with the preposition 'mit' (with) to express what an action is carried out with.
Der Bauer schnitt das Zuckerrohr mit einer scharfen Machete.
The farmer cut the sugar cane with a sharp machete.
The word 'Machete' (machete) is strongly connected with the context of jungle, tropical agriculture (e.g., sugar cane, bananas), and expeditions into difficult terrain.
Für die Arbeit auf der Plantage ist eine Machete ein unverzichtbares Werkzeug.
For work on the plantation, a machete is an essential tool.
knife
'das Messer' and 'die Machete' both refer to tools with a sharp blade. 'Messer' is the general word. It can be a piece of cutlery or a tool for cutting, for example in the kitchen or at a picnic. 'Machete' is more specific: it is large and heavy and has a broad blade. It is used more for cutting plants or clearing a path, especially in tropical regions. Learners may confuse the words because a machete is a kind of large knife. In everyday life, however, people usually say 'Messer', unless they really mean this particular large tool.
Im dichten Wald schlägt der Führer den Weg mit einer Machete frei.
In the dense forest, the guide clears the path with a machete.
Johanna schneidet das Brot mit einem scharfen Messer.
Johanna cuts the bread with a sharp knife.