English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com

Quälgeist — meaning in English

German → English · translate English → German instead

English meaning

  • gadfly noun Any dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee.
  • nag verb To repeatedly pester or criticize someone about something, in an annoying way.
  • nuisance noun A minor annoyance or source of inconvenience.
  • pest noun An insect or animal that damages crops, spreads disease, or is otherwise harmful.
  • plague noun A deadly, fast-spreading disease, especially historically the bubonic plague.

Senses

Quälgeist is used for these senses in English:

  • nag Someone or something that nags.
  • nuisance A person or thing causing annoyance or inconvenience.
  • pest An annoying person, a nuisance.
  • plague (figurative) A grave nuisance, whatever greatly irritates.

gadfly — full definition

  1. noun Any dipterous (“two-winged”) insect or fly of the family Oestridae (commonly known as a botfly) or Tabanidae (horsefly), noted for irritating animals by buzzing about them, and biting them to suck their blood; a gadbee.
  2. noun A person or thing that irritates or instigates.
  3. noun A person who upsets the status quo by posing novel or upsetting questions, or attempts to stimulate innovation by being an irritant.
  4. noun Synonym of gadabout (“a person who restlessly moves from place to place, seeking amusement or the companionship of others”).

nag — full definition

  1. verb To repeatedly pester or criticize someone about something, in an annoying way.
  2. verb To trouble someone persistently, as a worry or doubt does.
  3. noun An old or worn-out horse.

Related German words