Word association

This is an exercise we did yesterday in German class. You are given a word. This word you must explain to the group. But without using 5 words given to you. So for example the word “single” (which I picked out of a huge pile of words funnily enough). And then you’re not allowed to use the words married, children, on your own, one or alone. The words that sprang to mind for me were: available, free, out of prison and so forth. The teacher (the one without a sense of humour) just didn’t get it. “Out of prison”? “What do you mean”? Or perhaps (benefit of the doubt) it doesn’t translate into German :)?

As I have discovered lately, or to be honest always knew, ze Germans/Swiss are not known for a great sense of humour. Apart from my friends of course :)