verdeckt
obscured
Not visible or not fully visible because something is in front of or over it.
EXAMPLE
Die hinteren Fenster des Hauses sind durch dichte Büsche verdeckt.
The rear windows of the house are obscured by dense bushes.
verdeckt
obscured / undercover
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Meanings
verdeckt
undercover
Done secretly or in disguise so that the actual activity, intention, or identity cannot be recognized.
EXAMPLE
Eine verdeckte Ermittlerin nahm Kontakt zu den Verdächtigen auf.
An undercover investigator made contact with the suspects.
mit verdeckten Karten spielen
to play one's cards close
To keep one's true intentions or important information secret from others in order to gain an advantage.
EXAMPLE
Bei den Verhandlungen spielte die Geschäftsleitung mit verdeckten Karten und verschwieg ihre Pläne zur Schließung des Werks.
During the negotiations, management played their cards close to their chest and concealed their plans to close the plant.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry verdeckt, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | verdeckt |
|---|
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to verdeckt.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to verdeckt.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to verdeckt.
Usage tips
Typical construction
Use 'durch' (by) with the accusative to indicate what is blocking the view. 'verdeckt' (obscured) is also often combined with 'teilweise' (partially), 'fast vollständig' (almost completely), or 'ganz' (completely).
EXAMPLE
Das Straßenschild war teilweise durch einen Ast verdeckt.
The road sign was partially obscured by a branch.
Typical collocations
In the context of the police and intelligence services, 'verdeckte Ermittlungen' (undercover investigations), 'verdeckte Einsätze' (undercover operations), and 'verdeckt ermitteln' (to investigate undercover) are typical collocations. In 'verdeckt ermitteln', the adjective describes how the activity is carried out and takes no ending.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei führte mehrere Wochen lang verdeckte Ermittlungen durch.
The police conducted undercover investigations for several weeks.
Zwei Beamte ermittelten verdeckt in der Gruppe.
Two officers investigated undercover within the group.
Fixed expression
Learn the expression as a whole: 'mit verdeckten Karten spielen' (to play one's cards close to one's chest). 'Mit' requires the dative here; the phrase 'mit verdeckten Karten' stays unchanged even when 'spielen' (to play) is used in a different tense.
EXAMPLE
Ich hatte den Eindruck, dass unser Geschäftspartner mit verdeckten Karten spielte.
I had the impression that our business partner was playing his cards close to his chest.
In real life
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