verb
festdrehen
tighten
Etwas so bewegen oder drehen, dass es fest sitzt und sich nicht mehr lockert.
Meaning (English)
festdrehen means to tighten something firmly by turning it (usually a screw, bolt, cap, nut, or similar).
Depending on context it can also mean to over-tighten (tighten so much that it becomes stuck or damaged).
Examples of typical objects: Schraube (screw), Mutter (nut), Deckel (lid/cap), Ventil (valve).
Parts / Word formation
- fest = firm, tight, solid
- drehen = to turn, to rotate
→ festdrehen = “to turn tight / to tighten”
Multiple meanings / common uses
- To tighten (securely)
- Die Schraube festdrehen. = Tighten the screw.
- To over-tighten (so it jams/gets stuck)
- Den Deckel zu fest gedreht / festgedreht. = The lid was tightened too much (and is now hard to open).
German synonyms
- anziehen (especially for screws/bolts: to tighten)
- zudrehen (to screw/turn shut, e.g., a cap)
- festziehen (to tighten firmly)
- zuschrauben (to screw on / close by screwing)
German antonyms
- lockern (to loosen)
- lösen (to loosen/release)
- aufdrehen (to unscrew / open by turning)
- aufschrauben (to unscrew)
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Examples
Er dreht die Schraube fest.verb
He tightens the screw.
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