hanebüchen
Translation
outrageous, preposterous, absurd, ridiculous
Examples
Das ist eine hanebüchene Lüge.
That is an outrageous lie.
Er erzählte eine hanebüchene Geschichte.
He told a preposterous story.
Deine Ausrede ist einfach nur hanebüchen.
Your excuse is simply ridiculous.
Grammar Patterns
hanebüchen + Noun outrageous/absurd ~ That is a hanebüchene idea.
Similar Words
Synonyms: unglaublich, absurd, unverschämt
Etymology
From Middle High German 'hagenbüechin' (made of hornbeam wood), which was considered tough and gnarled. The meaning shifted to 'coarse' and then to 'outrageous'.
Memory Tips
Imagine a story so twisted and gnarled like a hornbeam tree ('Hagebuche') that it's completely unbelievable.