across / transverse
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across
Used as an adverb to describe movement from one side to the other, across or through something. It often appears with prepositions such as 'über' (over/across), 'durch' (through), or 'zu' (to).
Anstatt den Weg zu benutzen, liefen sie quer über die Wiese.
Instead of using the path, they walked across the meadow.
to refuse to cooperate
To resist something; to offer stubborn resistance or refuse to cooperate.
Der Abteilungsleiter hat sich bei der Einführung der neuen Software komplett quer gestellt.
The department head completely refused to cooperate when the new software was introduced.
transverse
Used as an adjective to describe something that does not run lengthwise, but at a right or acute angle to it; transverse.
Eine quere Naht verband die beiden Stoffteile.
A transverse seam connected the two pieces of fabric.
all over the place
In all directions; without a particular order or clear goal.
Wir sind den ganzen Tag kreuz und quer durch die Stadt gelaufen, um alle Sehenswürdigkeiten zu sehen.
We walked all over the city the whole day to see all the sights.
The word 'quer' (across/transverse) is also part of useful compounds. A 'Quereinsteiger' (career changer/lateral entrant), for example, is someone who moves from another professional field into a new activity, so they enter 'quer' (from the side).
Als ehemaliger Lehrer ist er jetzt ein Quereinsteiger in der IT-Branche.
As a former teacher, he is now a career changer in the IT industry.
In the meaning of 'hindurch' (through), 'quer' (across) is used as an adverb and is almost always followed by a preposition such as 'durch' (through) or 'über' (over/across). It describes a movement that crosses a surface or space.
Wir sind quer durch den Park gelaufen.
We walked across the park.
The expression 'sich quer stellen' means that someone resists or does not cooperate. The verb is reflexive ('sich'), and the person who is blocking things is the subject.
Bei diesem Vorschlag wird sich der Betriebsrat sicher quer stellen.
The works council is sure to refuse to cooperate on this proposal.
As an adjective, 'quer' (transverse/across) describes the orientation of something, often in contrast to 'längs' (lengthwise). It is usually used predicatively, meaning after the noun.
Der Holzbalken liegt quer im Raum.
The wooden beam lies across the room.
The expression 'kreuz und quer' means 'in all directions' or 'without order'. It is often combined with verbs of movement such as 'laufen' (to walk/run), 'fahren' (to drive/go), or 'reisen' (to travel).
Die Kinder rannten kreuz und quer durch den Garten.
The children ran all over the garden.
slanted / odd
Quer and schräg can both describe a line that does not run lengthwise. Quer emphasizes its direction relative to the lengthwise direction, while schräg particularly highlights its slanted or diagonal position. For a line running across a surface, quer fits depending on the reference direction; for an incline, schräg is more suitable.
Die Linie verläuft quer über das Blatt und schneidet die lange Seite.
The line runs across the sheet and crosses the long side.
Die Linie verläuft schräg über das Blatt und ist deutlich geneigt.
The line runs diagonally across the sheet and is noticeably slanted.
