pigeonhole

• Substantiv mit zwei Bedeutungen: ein kleines Fach zum Sortieren oder Aufbewahren von Gegenständen, oder eine feste, oft vereinfachende Kategorie, in die Menschen oder Dinge eingeordnet werden.

A noun with two distinct meanings: a small compartment for sorting or storing items, or a specific, often simplistic category used to classify people or things.

1. Small compartmentB1formal

   A small recess or compartment for storing papers or letters, often found in a desk or on a wall.

   Postfach

   • She placed the memo in his pigeonhole.
   • The office has a row of pigeonholes for mail.
   • He checked his pigeonhole for any new messages.

   Synonymecompartmentcubbycubbyholenicheslot

2. Simplistic categoryB2informal

   A narrow, often oversimplified category or classification that fails to capture complexity.

   Vereinfachte Kategorie

   • He doesn't fit neatly into any political pigeonhole.
   • The critic put the film in the pigeonhole of 'romantic comedy'.
   • She refused to be placed in a pigeonhole based on her background.

   Synonymeboxcategoryclassificationcompartmentslot

• Verb, das beschreibt, jemanden oder etwas auf eine einschränkende oder übermäßig vereinfachende Weise in eine Kategorie einzuordnen, oft ungerechtfertigt.

A verb used to indicate the act of categorizing or classifying someone or something in a restrictive or oversimplified manner, often unfairly.

1. Place into a small compartmentB2formal

   To put something into a small, specific space or category, often for storage or organization.

   In Fächer einordnen

   • She pigeonholed the documents into the filing cabinet.
   • He pigeonholed the letters by date in the drawer.
   • The librarian pigeonholed the returned books on the shelf.

   Synonymeassigncategorizeclassifycompartmentalizedesignatefilegrouplabelslotsort

2. Classify according to a mental stereotypeB2informal

   To treat or categorize someone or something based on a fixed, oversimplified idea or stereotype.

   Schubladendenken

   • Don't pigeonhole him as just a scientist; he's also a talented musician.
   • The media often pigeonholes celebrities into specific roles.
   • She felt pigeonholed by her colleagues because of her accent.

   Synonymebrandcategorizeclassifycompartmentalizelabelslotstereotypetypecast