der Weltmeister
world champion
A person or team that has won first place in a world championship in a particular sport or discipline.
EXAMPLE
Max Verstappen wurde erneut Formel-1-Weltmeister.
Max Verstappen became Formula 1 world champion again.
der Weltmeister
world champion
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Meanings
der Weltmeister
world champion
A colloquial, often ironic term for someone who is unbeatable in a particular, usually negative, trait or activity.
EXAMPLE
Wenn es darum geht, Ausreden zu finden, ist mein Bruder absoluter Weltmeister.
When it comes to finding excuses, my brother is an absolute world champion.
Usage tips
Compound word
The word 'Weltmeister' (world champion) is a simple compound of 'Welt' (world) and 'Meister' (master/champion). So it literally refers to a master or champion at the level of the whole world.
EXAMPLE
Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft wurde 2014 Fußball-Weltmeister.
The German national team became football world champion in 2014.
Use with 'in'
To name the sport or discipline in which someone is world champion, German uses the preposition 'in' followed by the dative.
EXAMPLE
Sie ist amtierende Weltmeisterin im Skifahren.
She is the reigning world champion in skiing.
Register and style
This meaning is colloquial and almost always meant ironically or humorously. It is used to exaggerate an extreme, often negative, trait of a person.
EXAMPLE
Er vergisst immer alles, er ist wirklich Weltmeister im Vergessen.
He always forgets everything; he really is world champion at forgetting.
Typical collocations
In the ironic meaning, 'Weltmeister' (world champion) is often combined with nominalized verbs that describe a bad habit. Typical examples are: 'Weltmeister im Jammern' (world champion at complaining), 'Weltmeister im Zuspätkommen' (world champion at being late), or 'Weltmeister im Ausredenfinden' (world champion at finding excuses).
EXAMPLE
Frag ihn nicht nach seiner Meinung, er ist Weltmeister im Kritisieren.
Don't ask him for his opinion; he's world champion at criticizing.
In real life
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