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Zwickmühle — meaning in English

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English meaning

  • bind verb To tie, fasten, or hold something together tightly, using rope, cord, a band, or similar.
  • conundrum noun A confusing or difficult problem, often one without a clear solution.
  • predicament noun A difficult, awkward, or unpleasant situation.
  • quagmire noun An area of soft, wet, boggy ground that traps anything that steps into it.
  • quandary noun A state of being unsure what to do, especially when facing a difficult choice.
  • scrape verb To drag something rough or sharp across a surface, often removing a layer or leaving a mark.

Senses

Zwickmühle is used for these senses in English:

  • Catch-22 (idiomatic) A difficult situation from which there is no escape because it involves mutually conflicting or dependent conditions.
  • bind (countable) A troublesome situation; a problem; a predicament or quandary.
  • conundrum A difficult choice or decision that must be made.
  • predicament An unfortunate or trying position or condition.
  • quagmire (figuratively) A perilous, mixed up and troubled situation; a hopeless tangle.
  • quandary A state of not knowing what to decide; a state of difficulty or perplexity; a state of uncertainty, hesitation or puzzlement.
  • scrape An awkward set of circumstances.

bind — full definition

  1. verb To tie, fasten, or hold something together tightly, using rope, cord, a band, or similar.
  2. verb To hold someone under a legal, moral, or promised obligation.
  3. verb In computing, to link or associate a name, variable, or module with a value or piece of code.
  4. noun A difficult or awkward situation with no easy way out.

Related German words