eingeknickt

Eingeknickt is the past participle of the German verb eingeknicken. It can function as a predicate adjective or as part of a nominal phrase, describing something that has been bent inward or collapsed, as well as a person who has yielded under pressure. The term carries both a literal and a figurative meaning and is common in everyday language as well as in technical or journalistic contexts.

In the physical sense, eingeknickt describes objects that have been bent or creased so that they lose their original shape or strength. Examples include a sheet of metal, a wire, or a branch that has been bent. A sentence might read: Der Draht ist eingeknickt oder Das Metallteil ist eingeknickt.

In the figurative sense, eingeknickt refers to a person who has given in, lost nerve, or yielded under pressure. It is often used to describe a weakened stance in negotiations, a response to stress, or a drop in courage. Examples include: Er ist beim Druck eingeknickt; Die Mannschaft ist nach dem Rückstand einknickt.

Etymologically, eingeknickt derives from the verb knicken (to bend, to crease) with the prefix ein-, indicating inward action or completion. The word is widely used in formal and informal German and can convey neutral physical description or negative connotations of weakness, depending on context and tone. See also knicken, einknicken; related figurative expressions include vor Druck nachgeben or den Mut verlieren.