haken
Translation
to snag, to get stuck, to be a problem, to hook
Examples
Die Tür hakt.
The door is snagging.
Woran hakt es denn?
So what's the hold-up?
Er hakt den Mantel an den Haken.
He hangs the coat on the hook.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) snags Something snags. The drawer snags.
es hakt ((an+3)) there's a problem with ((sth.dat)). There's a problem with the organisation.
Similar Words
Synonyms: klemmen (to jam), stocken (to falter)
Etymology
Related to the noun 'der Haken' (the hook). It literally means to act like a hook, i.e., to catch or snag.
Memory Tips
Imagine a 'Haken' (hook) that 'hakt' (snags) on your clothes.