verdrehte

Verdrehte is a German word with multiple related uses. It functions as the simple past tense form (Präteritum) of the verb verdrehen, for example in sentences like Er verdrehte die Wahrheit (He twisted the truth) or Er verdrehte die Augen (He rolled his eyes). It can also appear as an attributive or predicative adjective meaning twisted or distorted, as in eine verdrehte Perspektive (a twisted/distorted perspective).

Etymology and meaning. Verdrehen is formed from drehen (to turn) with the prefix ver-, which in this sense adds a notion of alteration or distortion. The combination can denote misrepresentation, bending or warping of something, typically information, facts, or perceptions. The past participle verdreht is commonly used in compound tenses, while verdrehte serves as the simple past form or as an adjective, depending on context.

Usage notes. The phrase die Wahrheit verdrehen is a standard collocation meaning to distort the truth. As an adjective, verdrehte can describe figurative twists, such as verdrehte Sichtweisen or verdrehte Darstellungen, indicating that something is not accurate or is presented in a biased way. The noun Verdrehung (distortion, twist) is the related term used when focusing on the act or result of twisting.

See also. Verdrehen, Verdrehung, Verdrehen as a verb in various tenses, and related expressions such as Verzerren, Verfälschen, which convey similar ideas of distortion or misrepresentation.