knitz
Translation
cunning, sly, crafty, stingy
Examples
Er hat einen knitzen Plan ausgeheckt.
He devised a cunning plan.
Der alte Mann ist ziemlich knitz.
The old man is quite sly.
Sei nicht so knitz mit deinem Wissen.
Don't be so stingy with your knowledge.
Grammar Patterns
to be knitz to be cunning, sly The old man is quite knitz.
a knitzer/e/es + Noun a cunning + noun He devised a knitzer Plan.
to be knitz with sth.dat to be stingy with sth. Don't be so knitz with your knowledge.
Similar Words
Synonyms: schlau, listig, pfiffig; Antonyms: naiv, ehrlich, offenherzig
Etymology
Derived from Middle High German 'knitze', meaning 'sharp' or 'cutting', which suggests a sharp mind.
Memory Tips
Think of 'knitz' as sounding a bit like 'nifty'. A nifty plan is a 'knitzer Plan'—a clever, cunning one.