gerissen

cunning

adjective ge-RIS-en Less Common

Origin: past participle of reißen (to tear)

Also means

shrewd

Usage Note

gerissen describes a sly, crafty shrewdness, often with a hint of unscrupulousness: ein gerissener Geschäftsmann. It can grudgingly admire cleverness. Contrast with the neutral clever and the negative hinterlistig (devious).

Examples

"Der gerissene Anwalt fand jedes Schlupfloch."

Natural Translation

The cunning lawyer found every loophole.

Literal Translation

The cunning lawyer found every loophole.

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