der Tick
quirk
A strange habit, an eccentricity, or an odd personal trait.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat den Tick, ihre Bücher immer nach Farben zu sortieren.
She has the quirk of always sorting her books by color.
der Tick
quirk / tic
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Meanings
einen Tick
a tiny bit
A very small amount or slight degree; a little bit.
EXAMPLE
Das Bild hängt einen Tick zu weit links.
The picture is hanging a tiny bit too far to the left.
der Tick
tic
An involuntary, quickly repeated movement or vocalization that is often made stronger by stress.
EXAMPLE
Er hat einen nervösen Tick und zuckt oft mit dem Augenlid.
He has a nervous tic and often twitches his eyelid.
Usage tips
False friend
'Der Tick' (quirk / tic) does not mean the same thing as the English 'tick'. It does not refer to a mark (check mark), nor to the sound of a clock. It describes a strange habit, an involuntary movement, or a very small amount.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den Tick, ständig auf sein Handy zu schauen.
He has the quirk of constantly looking at his phone.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from the context: 'Den Tick haben, etwas zu tun' (to have the quirk of doing something) means a habit. 'Einen Tick' followed by an adjective, e.g. 'einen Tick zu laut' (a tiny bit too loud), means 'a little bit'. A 'nervöser Tick' (nervous tic) refers to an uncontrolled body movement.
EXAMPLE
Sei bitte leise, die Musik ist einen Tick zu laut.
Please be quiet; the music is a tiny bit too loud.
Usage pattern
When 'Tick' (quirk) describes a strange habit, the fixed expression 'einen Tick haben' (to have a quirk) is often used. The habit itself is frequently described with a 'zu' + infinitive construction.
EXAMPLE
Mein Professor hat den Tick, während des Redens immer auf- und abzugehen.
My professor has the quirk of always pacing back and forth while speaking.
Usage pattern
In the meaning 'ein bisschen' (a little bit), the fixed form 'einen Tick' (a tiny bit) is used like an adverb. It comes directly before an adjective or comparative to express a small increase or deviation.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du das Salz bitte einen Tick weiter nach rechts schieben?
Could you please move the salt a tiny bit farther to the right?
Register
Using 'einen Tick' (a tiny bit) for 'ein bisschen' (a little bit) is very typical of spoken colloquial German. It is used less often in formal or written texts.
EXAMPLE
Ich komme einen Tick später, weil der Bus Verspätung hatte.
I'll arrive a tiny bit later because the bus was delayed.
Compare with
Tick vs etwas
something / somewhat
Etwas and einen Tick both refer here to a small degree. Etwas is neutral and leaves the exact amount open; einen Tick is more colloquial and emphasizes that the difference is especially small.
Tick
Die Suppe ist nur einen Tick zu salzig.
The soup is only a tiny bit too salty.
etwas
Die Suppe ist etwas zu salzig.
The soup is somewhat too salty.
In real life
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