der Schopf
shock of hair
A thick tuft of hair on a person's head, often somewhat messy.
EXAMPLE
Der Wind zerzauste seinen blonden Schopf.
The wind tousled his blond shock of hair.
der Schopf
tuft / crest
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
jemanden/etwas beim Schopf packen
to seize an opportunity
To seize a favorable opportunity decisively and immediately.
EXAMPLE
Als sich die Chance für das Praktikum bot, hat sie die Gelegenheit sofort beim Schopf gepackt.
When the chance for the internship came up, she immediately seized the opportunity.
der Schopf
crest
A tuft of feathers on a bird's head.
EXAMPLE
Der Wiedehopf ist an seinem auffälligen Schopf leicht zu erkennen.
The hoopoe is easy to recognize by its striking crest.
Usage tips
Fixed expression
The most common use of 'Schopf' is in the fixed idiom 'die Gelegenheit beim Schopf packen' (to seize the opportunity). It means to make use of a good chance immediately and decisively.
EXAMPLE
Als das Jobangebot kam, habe ich die Gelegenheit sofort beim Schopf gepackt.
When the job offer came, I immediately seized the opportunity.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from context. If people are being talked about, a tuft or shock of hair is meant. In connection with birds, feathers are meant. The idiom 'beim Schopf packen' always refers to an opportunity.
EXAMPLE
Er strich sich durch den dichten Schopf.
He ran his hand through his thick shock of hair.
Register and style
When 'Schopf' is used for human hair, it often sounds somewhat poetic or slightly old-fashioned. It usually describes full, thick, and often somewhat messy hair.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Kind hatte einen wilden Schopf aus roten Locken.
The little child had a wild shock of red curls.
Compare with
Schopf vs Zopf
braid / loaf
Zopf and Schopf can both refer to hair on the head. A Zopf is made by braiding several strands of hair, whereas a Schopf is a thick, often somewhat messy tuft of hair. The decisive difference is whether the hair is braided.
Schopf
Nach dem Aufstehen stand ihr ein unordentlicher Schopf vom Kopf ab.
After she got up, a messy shock of hair was sticking up from her head.
Zopf
Sie flocht ihr langes Haar zu einem Zopf.
She braided her long hair into a braid.
In real life
Loading video examples...