Verkorkung

Verkorkung is a German noun (feminine) used to describe a run of bad luck or a situation in which several events go wrong. It is a colloquial term, often spoken with a humorous or self-deprecating tone. People refer to “eine Verkorkung” or to “eine Verkorkung nach der anderen” when outlining a streak of mishaps or a day that seems doomed.

Etymology and sense-making come from the verb verkorken, literally meaning to cork something. Metaphorically, it suggests that the flow of events is blocked or spoiled, as if a cork has stopped a bottle from pouring smoothly. The noun captures a broader sense than a single mistake: it denotes a pattern of misfortune rather than one isolated error.

Usage and nuance: Verkorkung is typically used for personal misfortune or for a sequence of unfavorable developments, and it is more common in spoken language across Germany and Austria. It can describe everyday life, a failed plan, or a sports or technical setback. In formal contexts, it is usually substituted by terms like Pech, Unglück, or eine Pechsträhne, since verkorkung remains informal and somewhat whimsical.

Relation to culture: The term appears in media, blogs, and casual conversations to convey a light-hearted or resigned view of repeatedly unlucky outcomes. It is not a specialized technical term, but a vernacular expression that signals shared colloquial understanding of luck or its absence.