etw. aufdröseln
verb: to unravel something
This colloquialism is used to both literally and figuratively mean ‘to unravel something (into its separate threads)’ – for instance, you might unravel a string, or you could unravel a plot.
Wir mussten das Problem aufdröseln. = We had to unravel/analyse the problem.
Jedes Mal wenn ich etwas stricken will, muss ich verhedderte Wolle aufdröseln! = Every time I want to knit something, I have to unravel tangled wool!
Sie dröselte ihm das Gewebe der Handlung auf. = She unravelled the fabric of the plot for him.
![](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7c57b8_254c8b74811d45b99de973b89eb1fe1b~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_147,h_98,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,blur_2,enc_auto/7c57b8_254c8b74811d45b99de973b89eb1fe1b~mv2.jpg)
A box of colourful wool. Photo: Counselling via Pixabay