einen Strick drehen

German

Etymology

Literally: “to twist (somebody) a hangman’s rope (out of something)”.

Pronunciation

Audio (file)

Verb

einen Strick drehen

(idiomatic) to use something against somebody in order to hurt them (e.g. to have them fired or the like)
Das war eine ganz harmlose Bemerkung. Daraus kann dir niemand einen Strick drehen. (Standard German proper)

Das war ’ne ganz harmlose Bemerkung. Da kann dir keiner ’n Strick draus drehen. (Colloquial)
It was an entirely harmless remark. Nobody can use that against you.
(literally, “It was an entirely harmless remark. Nobody can twist you a hangman’s rope out of it.”)

Conjugation

See drehen.

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