Meaning of konks | Babel Free

Definitions

1. hook (a curved or bent implement for suspending or pulling something)
2. trick, ruse; catch

Equivalents

Examples

“Supipada rippus lõkke kohal konksu otsas.”

The soup pot hung over the fire on a hook.

“Kullil on küüned kui konksud.”

A hawk's claws are like hooks.

“konksuga küsimus”

a trick question

“Tal on mingi kaval konks mõttes.”

(S)he has some kind of clever trick up his/her sleeve.

“Konks ongi selles, et mul pole raha.”

The catch is that I don't have any money.

“Eestimaa uus talurahwa seadus laiendas talupoja liikumise wabadust; wiimane wõis nüid kui ta mõisniku ja kogukonna wastu oma kohused täitnud, kui ta kumbagile wõlgu ei olnud ja saksale oma talu, peremehele oma teenistuse määratud ajal üles oli ütelnud, ühest kubermangust teise rännata, milleks tal kuberneri käest pass oli paluda. Aga kui paljud tundsiwad siis seda seadust! Lihtlabane kirja-oskamatus pani seaduse raamatule rahwa kohta seitse pitseri peale, kuna teda sagedasti rahwa eest ka warjul hoiti. Ja kui teda keegi tundisgi, siis ütles niisugune enesele õigusega: Seadused on talupojale, mitte saksale. Millal on saks seadustest hoolinud! Kui ta neist wägiwaldselt üle ei astu, siis teeb ta seda konksudega. Ja neist ei ole tal kunagi puudust.”

The new law of the peasantry of Estonia extended the freedom of movement of the peasant; he could now, if his obligations to the landlord and the community were fulfilled, if he was not indebted to either, and if he had renounced his farm to the Saxon and his service to the landlord within the legal term, migrate from one governorate to another, for which he had to ask the governor for a passport. But how many then knew this law! Simple illiteracy put seven seals on the book of the law about the people, because it was often kept hidden from the people. And if anyone did know it, such a one rightly said to himself: When has a Saxon ever caredfor laws! If he does not violently transgress them, he does it with tricks. And he never lacks them.

CEFR level