Handstreich

== German == === Etymology === Hand +‎ Streich. Originally a synonym for Handschlag (“handshake”). In the early 19th century repurposed as a calque of French coup de main. === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈhantʃtʁaɪ̯ç/ Rhymes: -aɪç Hyphenation: Hand‧streich === Noun === Handstreich m (strong, genitive Handstreiches or Handstreichs, plural Handstreiche) a stroke with the hand: Synonym: Handstrich (obsolete) a handshake Synonym: Handschlag (obsolete, by extension) hand money Synonym: Handgeld (military, politics) coup de main; a surprise attack ==== Usage notes ==== In the literal sense of "stroke with the hand" interchangeably used with Handstrich, e.g. in the phrases keinen Handstrich/Handstreich tun ("to do nothing") or etwas mit einem Handstrich/Handstreich erledigen ("to get something done with ease"). ==== Declension ==== === Further reading === “Handstreich” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache “Handstreich” in Duden online “Handstreich” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon “Handstreich” in Deutsches Wörterbuch von Jacob und Wilhelm Grimm, 16 vols., Leipzig 1854–1961.