verquetschen

Verquetschen is a German verb meaning to crush, squeeze, or mash something with considerable force. It describes an action that reduces a solid object to a pulp or paste, typically by pressing, grinding, or mashing. The term can be used in culinary contexts as well as in everyday speech to convey a thorough, sometimes rough, transformation of the material.

In practical use, verquetschen appears with a direct object: for example, fruit or vegetables can be verquetscht to release juice or to form a puree. It is common to encounter phrases like to verquetschen Beeren oder Tomaten zum Essig oder zur Soße. The verb emphasizes a robust or aggressive result compared with milder synonyms such as pürieren, zerdrücken, or zerquetschen, though the precise choice depends on the degree of crushing and the context.

Figuratively, verquetschen can express intense pressure or coercion, such as forcing someone to accept a proposal or overwhelming an opponent. This figurative use is informal and often conveys a sense of overpowering force rather than physical damage.

Etymologically, verquetschen is formed with the prefix ver- added to the verb quetschen (to squeeze, press). It is less common than zerquetschen and is primarily found in colloquial language or specific stylistic contexts, including culinary writing. The past participle typically appears as verquetscht in compound tenses.

See also: quetschen, zerquetschen, zerdrücken, pürieren.