verklemmen
Translation
to jam, to get stuck, to be uptight, to be inhibited
Examples
Die Schublade hat sich verklemmt.
The drawer has got jammed.
Verklemm dich nicht so!
Don't be so uptight!
Grammar Patterns
sichAkk to get jammed/stuck Die Tür hat sich verklemmt.
sichAkk (figurative) to be uptight/inhibited Er verklemmt sich in Gesellschaft.
Similar Words
Synonyms: stecken bleiben (to get stuck), blockieren (to block)
Etymology
From 'ver-' (prefix indicating something going wrong or getting stuck) + 'klemmen' (to clamp, to jam).
Memory Tips
Imagine a clamp ('Klemme') that has gone wrong ('ver-') and is now completely jammed.