schief
Translation
crooked, lopsided, askew, wrong (go wrong)
Examples
Das Bild hängt schief an der Wand.
The picture is hanging crooked on the wall.
Leider ist bei dem Plan etwas schief gegangen.
Unfortunately, something went wrong with the plan.
Grammar Patterns
to be/hang crooked Das Bild hängt schief.
to go wrong Der Plan ist schief gegangen.
Similar Words
krumm (bent, crooked); Antonyms: gerade (straight)
Etymology
From Old High German 'scief', meaning 'oblique'. Related to the English word 'skew'.
Memory Tips
Imagine a ship ('Schiff') leaning to one side, making it 'schief' (crooked).