verkneifen
Translation
to suppress, to refrain from, to resist (doing sth.)
Examples
Ich musste mir das Lachen verkneifen.
I had to suppress my laughter.
Verkneif dir bitte diese freche Antwort!
Please refrain from that cheeky answer!
Heute verkneife ich mir den Nachtisch.
Today I'm refraining from dessert.
Grammar Patterns
sich3 et4 to refrain from sth. for oneself I'm refraining from the chocolate.
Similar Words
Synonyms: unterdrücken (to suppress), zurückhalten (to hold back); Antonyms: nachgeben (to give in), zulassen (to allow)
Etymology
From 'ver-' and 'kneifen' (to pinch). The idea is 'to pinch something away' or to pinch one's lips to stop from saying something.
Memory Tips
Imagine physically 'pinching' (kneifen) your lips together to 'suppress' (verkneifen) a laugh or a comment.