die Kinnlade
Translation
jaw, jawbone, mandible
Examples
Er hat eine starke Kinnlade.
He has a strong jaw.
Mir fiel vor Staunen die Kinnlade herunter.
My jaw dropped in amazement.
Grammar Patterns
sb.'s jaw drops j-m fällt die Kinnlade herunter When he saw the price, his jaw dropped.
Similar Words
Synonyms: Unterkiefer, Kiefer
Etymology
A compound of 'Kinn' (chin) and 'Lade' (drawer, chest). It describes the jaw as a 'drawer' for the chin.
Memory Tips
Think of it as the 'chin-drawer'. The idiom 'die Kinnlade herunterfallen' (for the jaw to drop down) is very common for expressing amazement.