German

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Etymology

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From knebeln (to gag) +‎ Vertrag (contract). Compare Dutch wurgcontract (literally strangling contract).

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈkneːbəlfərˌtraːk/, [ˈkneː.bl̩.fɐˌtʁaːk], [-bəl-], /-fɛr-/, [-fɛɐ̯-] (standard)
  • IPA(key): /-ˌtrax/, [-ˌtʁaχ] (northern and central Germany; now chiefly colloquial)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: Kne‧bel‧ver‧trag

Noun

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Knebelvertrag m (strong, genitive Knebelvertrages or Knebelvertrags, plural Knebelverträge)

  1. A contract that is very exploitative to one party and that is difficult or costly to terminate.

Declension

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Further reading

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