diff --git a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/CartesianPlot.cpp b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/CartesianPlot.cpp
--- a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/CartesianPlot.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/CartesianPlot.cpp
@@ -2682,6 +2682,22 @@
 			else
 				info += QDateTime::fromMSecsSinceEpoch(logicalPoint.y()).toString(yRangeDateTimeFormat);
 			update();
+        } else if (mouseMode == CartesianPlot::MouseMode::SelectionMode) {
+
+			// hover the nearest curve to the mousepointer
+			bool curve_hovered = false;
+			for (auto curve: q->children<XYCurve>()){
+				if(curve_hovered){
+					curve->setHover(false);
+					continue;
+				}
+				if(curve->activateCurve(event->pos())){
+					curve->setHover(true);
+					curve_hovered = true;
+					continue;
+				}
+				curve->setHover(false);
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	q->info(info);
diff --git a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.h b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.h
--- a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.h
+++ b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.h
@@ -74,6 +74,9 @@
 	int indexForX(double x, QVector<QPointF>& column, AbstractColumn::Properties properties = AbstractColumn::Properties::No) const;
 	int indexForX(double x, QVector<QLineF>& lines, AbstractColumn::Properties properties = AbstractColumn::Properties::No) const;
 
+	bool activateCurve(QPointF mouseScenePos, double maxDist = -1);
+	void setHover(bool on);
+
 	POINTER_D_ACCESSOR_DECL(const AbstractColumn, xColumn, XColumn)
 	POINTER_D_ACCESSOR_DECL(const AbstractColumn, yColumn, YColumn)
 	CLASS_D_ACCESSOR_DECL(QString, xColumnPath, XColumnPath)
diff --git a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.cpp b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.cpp
--- a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.cpp
+++ b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurve.cpp
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@
 //##############################################################################
 XYCurvePrivate::XYCurvePrivate(XYCurve *owner) : q(owner) {
 	setFlag(QGraphicsItem::ItemIsSelectable, true);
-	setAcceptHoverEvents(true);
+	setAcceptHoverEvents(false);
 }
 
 QString XYCurvePrivate::name() const {
@@ -862,7 +862,11 @@
 }
 
 void XYCurvePrivate::contextMenuEvent(QGraphicsSceneContextMenuEvent* event) {
-	q->createContextMenu()->exec(event->screenPos());
+	if (q->activateCurve(event->pos())) {
+		q->createContextMenu()->exec(event->screenPos());
+		return;
+	}
+	QGraphicsItem::contextMenuEvent(event);
 }
 
 bool XYCurvePrivate::swapVisible(bool on) {
@@ -2357,6 +2361,241 @@
 	return -1;
 }
 
+/*!
+ * \brief XYCurve::activateCurve
+ * Checks if the mousepos distance to the curve is less than @p pow(maxDist,2)
+ * \param mouseScenePos
+ * \param maxDist
+ * \return Returns true if the distance is smaller than pow(maxDist,2).
+ */
+bool XYCurve::activateCurve(QPointF mouseScenePos, double maxDist) {
+	Q_D(XYCurve);
+	return d->activateCurve(mouseScenePos, maxDist);
+}
+
+bool XYCurvePrivate::activateCurve(QPointF mouseScenePos, double maxDist) {
+	//PERFTRACE("XYCurve::activateCurve()");
+	int rowCount = 0;
+	if (lineType != XYCurve::LineType::NoLine) {
+		rowCount = lines.count();
+	} else if (symbolsStyle != Symbol::Style::NoSymbols) {
+		rowCount = symbolPointsScene.count();
+	} else
+		return false;
+
+	if (rowCount == 0)
+		return false;
+
+	if (maxDist < 0)
+		maxDist = linePen.width() < 10 ? 10: linePen.width();
+
+	double maxDistSquare = pow(maxDist,2);
+
+	int properties = q->xColumn()->properties();
+	if (properties == AbstractColumn::Properties::No) {
+		// assumption: points exist if no line. otherwise previously returned false
+		if (lineType == XYCurve::NoLine) {
+			QPointF curvePosPrevScene = symbolPointsScene[0];
+			QPointF curvePosScene = curvePosPrevScene;
+			for (int row =0; row < rowCount; row ++) {
+				if (pow(mouseScenePos.x() - curvePosScene.x(),2) + pow(mouseScenePos.y() - curvePosScene.y(),2) <= maxDistSquare)
+					return true;
+
+				curvePosPrevScene = curvePosScene;
+				curvePosScene = symbolPointsScene[row];
+			}
+		} else {
+			for (int row=0; row < rowCount; row++) {
+				QLineF line = lines[row];
+				if (pointLiesNearLine(line.p1(), line.p2(), mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+					return true;
+			}
+		}
+
+	} else if (properties == AbstractColumn::Properties::MonotonicIncreasing ||
+		  properties == AbstractColumn::Properties::MonotonicDecreasing) {
+
+		bool increase = true;
+		if (properties == AbstractColumn::Properties::MonotonicDecreasing)
+			increase = false;
+
+		int lowerIndex = 0;
+		int higherIndex = rowCount-1;
+		double x = mouseScenePos.x()-maxDist;
+
+		unsigned int max_steps = q->calculateMaxSteps(static_cast<unsigned int>(rowCount));
+		int index = 0;
+
+		QPointF curvePosScene;
+		QPointF curvePosPrevScene;
+
+		if (lineType == XYCurve::NoLine) {
+			curvePosScene  = symbolPointsScene[index];
+			curvePosPrevScene = curvePosScene;
+			index = q->indexForX(x, symbolPointsScene, static_cast<AbstractColumn::Properties>(properties));
+		} else
+			index = q->indexForX(x, lines, static_cast<AbstractColumn::Properties>(properties));
+
+		if (index >= 1)
+			index --; // use one before so it is secured that I'm before point.x()
+
+		double xMaxSquare =mouseScenePos.x()+maxDist;
+		bool stop = false;
+		while (1) {
+
+			// assumption: points exist if no line. otherwise previously returned false
+			if (lineType == XYCurve::NoLine) {// check points only if no line otherwise check only the lines
+				if (curvePosScene.x() > xMaxSquare)
+					stop = true; // one more time if bigger
+				if (pow(mouseScenePos.x()- curvePosScene.x(),2)+pow(mouseScenePos.y()-curvePosScene.y(),2) <= maxDistSquare)
+					return true;
+			} else {
+				if (lines[index].p1().x() > xMaxSquare)
+					stop = true; // one more time if bigger
+
+				QLineF line = lines[index];
+				if (pointLiesNearLine(line.p1(), line.p2(), mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+					return true;
+			}
+
+			if (stop || (index >= rowCount-1 && increase) || (index <=0 && !increase))
+				break;
+
+			if (increase)
+				index++;
+			else
+				index--;
+
+			if (lineType == XYCurve::NoLine) {
+				curvePosPrevScene = curvePosScene;
+				curvePosScene = symbolPointsScene[index];
+			}
+		}
+
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+/*!
+ * \brief XYCurve::pointLiesNearLine
+ * Calculates if a point \param pos lies near than maxDist to the line created by the points \param p1 and \param p2
+ * https://stackoverflow.com/questions/11604680/point-laying-near-line
+ * \param p1
+ * \param p2
+ * \param pos
+ * \param maxDist
+ * \return
+ */
+bool XYCurvePrivate::pointLiesNearLine(const QPointF& p1, const QPointF& p2, const QPointF& pos, const double maxDist) const{
+	double dx12 = p2.x()-p1.x();
+	double dy12 = p2.y()-p1.y();
+	double vecLenght = sqrt(pow(dx12,2)+pow(dy12,2));
+
+	if (vecLenght == 0) {
+		if (pow(p1.x()-pos.x(),2)+pow(p1.y()-pos.y(),2) <= pow(maxDist,2))
+			return true;
+		 return false;
+	}
+	QPointF unitvec(dx12/vecLenght,dy12/vecLenght);
+
+	double dx1m = pos.x() - p1.x();
+	double dy1m = pos.y() - p1.y();
+
+	double dist_segm = abs(dx1m*unitvec.y() - dy1m*unitvec.x());
+	double scalar_product = dx1m*unitvec.x()+dy1m*unitvec.y();
+	//DEBUG("DIST_SEGMENT   " << dist_segm << ", SCALAR_PRODUCT: " << scalar_product << ", VEC_LENGTH: " << vecLenght);
+
+	if (scalar_product > 0) {
+		if (scalar_product < vecLenght && dist_segm < maxDist) {
+			return true;
+		}
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+// TODO: curvePosScene.x() >= mouseScenePos.x() &&
+// curvePosPrevScene.x() < mouseScenePos.x()
+// dürfte eigentlich nicht drinn sein
+bool XYCurvePrivate::pointLiesNearCurve(const QPointF mouseScenePos, const QPointF curvePosPrevScene, const QPointF curvePosScene, const int index, const double maxDist) const {
+	if (q->lineType() != XYCurve::LineType::NoLine &&
+			curvePosScene.x() >= mouseScenePos.x() &&
+			curvePosPrevScene.x() < mouseScenePos.x()) {
+
+		if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::Line) {
+			// point is not in the near of the point, but it can be in the near of the connection line of two points
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		} else if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::StartHorizontal) {
+			QPointF tempPoint = curvePosPrevScene;
+			tempPoint.setX(curvePosScene.x());
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,tempPoint, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		} else if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::StartVertical) {
+			QPointF tempPoint = curvePosPrevScene;
+			tempPoint.setY(curvePosScene.y());
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,tempPoint, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		} else if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::MidpointHorizontal) {
+			QPointF tempPoint = curvePosPrevScene;
+			tempPoint.setX(curvePosPrevScene.x()+(curvePosScene.x()-curvePosPrevScene.x())/2);
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,tempPoint, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+			QPointF tempPoint2;
+			tempPoint2.setX(tempPoint.x());
+			tempPoint2.setY(curvePosScene.y());
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint,tempPoint2, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint2,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		} else if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::MidpointVertical) {
+			QPointF tempPoint = curvePosPrevScene;
+			tempPoint.setY(curvePosPrevScene.y()+(curvePosScene.y()-curvePosPrevScene.y())/2);
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,tempPoint, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+			QPointF tempPoint2;
+			tempPoint2.setY(tempPoint.y());
+			tempPoint2.setX(curvePosScene.x());
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint,tempPoint2, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(tempPoint2,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		} else if (q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::SplineAkimaNatural ||
+				   q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::SplineCubicNatural ||
+				   q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::SplineAkimaPeriodic ||
+				   q->lineType() == XYCurve::LineType::SplineCubicPeriodic) {
+			for (int i=0; i < q->lineInterpolationPointsCount()+1; i++) {
+				QLineF line = lines[index*(q->lineInterpolationPointsCount()+1)+i];
+				QPointF p1 = line.p1(); //cSystem->mapLogicalToScene(line.p1());
+				QPointF p2 = line.p2(); //cSystem->mapLogicalToScene(line.p2());
+				if (pointLiesNearLine(p1, p2, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+					return true;
+			}
+		} else {
+			// point is not in the near of the point, but it can be in the near of the connection line of two points
+			if (pointLiesNearLine(curvePosPrevScene,curvePosScene, mouseScenePos, maxDist))
+				return true;
+		}
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
+/*!
+ * \brief XYCurve::setHover
+ * Will be called in CartesianPlot::hoverMoveEvent()
+ * See d->setHover(on) for more documentation
+ * \param on
+ */
+void XYCurve::setHover(bool on) {
+	Q_D(XYCurve);
+	d->setHover(on);
+}
+
 void XYCurvePrivate::updateErrorBars() {
 	errorBarsPath = QPainterPath();
 	if (xErrorType == XYCurve::NoError && yErrorType == XYCurve::NoError) {
@@ -2796,24 +3035,6 @@
 	}
 }
 
-void XYCurvePrivate::hoverEnterEvent(QGraphicsSceneHoverEvent*) {
-	const auto* plot = dynamic_cast<const CartesianPlot*>(q->parentAspect());
-	if (plot->mouseMode() == CartesianPlot::SelectionMode && !isSelected()) {
-		m_hovered = true;
-		emit q->hovered();
-		update();
-	}
-}
-
-void XYCurvePrivate::hoverLeaveEvent(QGraphicsSceneHoverEvent*) {
-	const auto* plot = dynamic_cast<const CartesianPlot*>(q->parentAspect());
-	if (plot->mouseMode() == CartesianPlot::SelectionMode && m_hovered) {
-		m_hovered = false;
-		emit q->unhovered();
-		update();
-	}
-}
-
 void XYCurvePrivate::setPrinting(bool on) {
 	m_printing = on;
 }
@@ -2823,6 +3044,46 @@
 	m_suppressRecalc = on;
 }
 
+/*!
+ * \brief XYCurvePrivate::mousePressEvent
+ * checks with activateCurve, if the mousePress was in the near
+ * of the curve. If it was, the curve will be selected
+ * \param event
+ */
+void XYCurvePrivate::mousePressEvent(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent* event) {
+
+	if (plot->mouseMode() != CartesianPlot::MouseMode::SelectionMode) {
+		event->ignore();
+		return QGraphicsItem::mousePressEvent(event);
+	}
+
+	if(q->activateCurve(event->pos())){
+		setSelected(true);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	event->ignore();
+	setSelected(false);
+	QGraphicsItem::mousePressEvent(event);
+	return;
+}
+
+/*!
+ * \brief XYCurvePrivate::setHover
+ * Will be called from CartesianPlot::hoverMoveEvent which
+ * determines, which curve is hovered
+ * \param on
+ */
+void XYCurvePrivate::setHover(bool on) {
+
+	if(on == m_hovered)
+		return; // don't update if state not changed
+
+	m_hovered = on;
+	on ? emit q->hovered() : emit q->unhovered();
+	update();
+}
+
 //##############################################################################
 //##################  Serialization/Deserialization  ###########################
 //##############################################################################
diff --git a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurvePrivate.h b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurvePrivate.h
--- a/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurvePrivate.h
+++ b/src/backend/worksheet/plots/cartesian/XYCurvePrivate.h
@@ -59,6 +59,11 @@
 	void setPrinting(bool);
 	void suppressRetransform(bool);
 
+	void setHover(bool on);
+	bool activateCurve(QPointF mouseScenePos, double maxDist);
+	bool pointLiesNearLine(const QPointF& p1, const QPointF& p2, const QPointF& pos, const double maxDist) const;
+	bool pointLiesNearCurve(const QPointF mouseScenePos, const QPointF curvePosPrevScene, const QPointF curvePosScene, const int index, const double maxDist) const;
+
 	//data source
 	const AbstractColumn* xColumn;
 	const AbstractColumn* yColumn;
@@ -138,8 +143,7 @@
 
 private:
 	void contextMenuEvent(QGraphicsSceneContextMenuEvent*) override;
-	void hoverEnterEvent(QGraphicsSceneHoverEvent*) override;
-	void hoverLeaveEvent(QGraphicsSceneHoverEvent*) override;
+	void mousePressEvent(QGraphicsSceneMouseEvent*) override;
 	void paint(QPainter*, const QStyleOptionGraphicsItem*, QWidget* widget = nullptr) override;
 
 	void drawSymbols(QPainter*);
diff --git a/src/commonfrontend/worksheet/WorksheetView.cpp b/src/commonfrontend/worksheet/WorksheetView.cpp
--- a/src/commonfrontend/worksheet/WorksheetView.cpp
+++ b/src/commonfrontend/worksheet/WorksheetView.cpp
@@ -935,25 +935,6 @@
 		return;
 	}
 
-	//to select curves having overlapping bounding boxes we need to check whether the cursor
-	//is inside of item's shapes and not inside of the bounding boxes (Qt's default behaviour).
-	for (auto* item : items(event->pos())) {
-		if (!dynamic_cast<XYCurvePrivate*>(item))
-			continue;
-
-		if ( item->shape().contains(item->mapFromScene(mapToScene(event->pos()))) ) {
-			//deselect currently selected items
-			for (auto* selectedItem : scene()->selectedItems())
-				selectedItem->setSelected(false);
-
-			//select the item under the cursor and update the current selection
-			item->setSelected(true);
-			selectionChanged();
-
-			return;
-		}
-	}
-
 	// select the worksheet in the project explorer if the view was clicked
 	// and there is no selection currently. We need this for the case when
 	// there is a single worksheet in the project and we change from the project-node