verziehen

Verziehen is a German verb formed with the prefix ver- and the verb ziehen (to pull). It has several related but distinct meanings, which are determined by context. The word can also function as a past participle or an adjective.

One primary sense is to warp, distort, or bend a material so that it no longer lies flat or true. In this use, verziehen describes objects such as wood, metal, or frames that have changed shape, often due to moisture, heat, or pressure. A typical example is Der Tisch ist verzogen, meaning the table is warped.

A second common sense is to pull a facial expression, i.e., to make a face or grimace. In this usage, sich oder etwas verziehen is combined with the object of the face: Er verzog das Gesicht vor Schmerz or Sie verzog eine Grimasse. This sense emphasizes the action of contorting the mouth, eyes, or overall expression.

A further usage is to disappear or slink away, especially after trouble or an argument. Intransitively, one can say Er hat sich verzogen, meaning he has slunk off or withdrawn.

As an adjective, verzogen can describe someone as spoiled or pampered, often in the compound ver­zogenes Kind (“a spoiled child”). This adjective carries a negative connotation and is common in colloquial speech.

Etymologically, ver- in verziehen conveys a sense of change or alteration, combined with ziehen’s core meaning of pulling or drawing, yielding a range from physical distortion to figurative withdraw or affective expression. The precise sense is determined by the surrounding words and the object of verziehen.