tailor / water strider
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tailor
A person who professionally makes, alters, or repairs clothing, especially custom suits, costumes, or coats.
Ich habe mir beim Schneider einen Anzug für die Hochzeit machen lassen.
I had a suit made for the wedding at the tailor's.
water strider
An insect with long legs that can move across the surface of bodies of water (also called a water skater).
Auf dem Teich tanzten mehrere Schneider über das Wasser.
Several water striders danced across the water on the pond.
to be Schneider
In certain card games (e.g., Skat), to lose a round with very few points (under 31).
Wir haben das letzte Spiel verloren und waren auch noch Schneider.
We lost the last game and were even Schneider.
'Der Schneider' (the tailor) is derived directly from the verb 'schneiden' (to cut). A tailor is therefore literally a person whose main activity is cutting fabric.
Der Schneider muss den Stoff exakt schneiden, damit der Anzug passt.
The tailor has to cut the fabric precisely so that the suit fits.
To distinguish the different meanings, pay attention to the context. If it is about clothing ('Anzug' (suit), 'Kleid' (dress)), the profession is meant. If it is about water ('Teich' (pond), 'See' (lake)), the insect is meant. If it is about card games ('Skat', 'Punkte' (points)), the game term is meant.
Ich bringe meine Hose zum Schneider, sie ist zu lang.
I'm taking my pants to the tailor; they are too long.
When using a tailor's services, people often say 'zum Schneider gehen' (to go to the tailor), 'etwas beim Schneider ändern lassen' (to have something altered at the tailor's), or 'sich einen Anzug schneidern lassen' (to have a suit tailored).
Ich muss mit diesem Kleid zum Schneider, der Reißverschluss ist kaputt.
I have to take this dress to the tailor; the zipper is broken.
black
In Skat, schwarz and Schneider can both describe a particularly clear defeat. Schneider means that the losing side scored fewer than 31 points; schwarz is used when losing without taking a single trick. So pay attention to the points scored and the number of tricks taken.
Unsere Mannschaft war beim Skat Schneider, weil sie nur 28 Augen erreichte.
Our team was Schneider in Skat because it scored only 28 points.
Unsere Mannschaft verlor beim Skat schwarz, weil sie keinen einzigen Stich machte.
Our team lost without taking a single trick in Skat.
