to intercept / cushion
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to intercept
To stop something or someone before the destination is reached. This can refer to messages, people, or objects in motion.
Der Geheimdienst konnte die verschlüsselte Nachricht abfangen.
The intelligence service was able to intercept the encrypted message.
to break / cushion
To lessen or stop the force of a fall or impact by supporting oneself or something else.
Er konnte sich mit den Händen abfangen, als er stolperte.
He was able to break his fall with his hands when he stumbled.
to stabilize / counteract
In technology or aviation, to stop and stabilize a movement (e.g., descending or rising). Also in a figurative sense, to stop a negative development.
Der Pilot musste das Flugzeug nach dem starken Sinken schnell wieder abfangen.
After the steep descent, the pilot had to quickly stabilize the aircraft again.
'Abfangen' (to intercept/cushion) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause, stays attached to the verb in a subordinate clause, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between the prefix and the verb.
Der Torwart fängt den Ball sicher ab.
The goalkeeper safely intercepts the ball.
The word consists of the prefix 'ab-' and the verb 'fangen' (to catch). Here, the prefix 'ab-' describes that something is 'caught away' from its path or out of its movement.
Die Polizei konnte die Diebe kurz vor der Grenze abfangen.
The police were able to intercept the thieves shortly before the border.
In the meaning 'to cushion a fall', the verb is often used reflexively with 'sich'. The construction is then 'sich abfangen' (to break one's fall), often followed by 'mit' and the body part in the dative.
Als sie fiel, konnte sie sich gerade noch mit den Armen abfangen.
When she fell, she just managed to break her fall with her arms.
When it is about stopping something, 'abfangen' (to intercept) is often used with objects that are on a path. Typical examples are: 'einen Ball abfangen' (to intercept a ball), 'einen Brief abfangen' (to intercept a letter), or 'einen Anruf abfangen' (to intercept a call).
Der Verteidiger hat den Pass im letzten Moment abgefangen.
The defender intercepted the pass at the last moment.
This meaning is often found in technical or economic contexts. When it is about airplanes, cars, or abstract things like 'Preise' (prices) or 'eine Krise' (a crisis), it usually means stabilizing or counteracting something.
Die Regierung versucht, den wirtschaftlichen Abschwung abzufangen.
The government is trying to cushion the economic downturn.
to stop
Stoppen emphasizes ending a movement or development. Abfangen, by contrast, usually refers to slowing and stabilizing something in a controlled way, so that a negative development continues less strongly without necessarily being ended completely. With a rise in prices, abfangen is suitable when its effects are being mitigated.
Die neuen Maßnahmen fingen den Preisanstieg durch Zuschüsse teilweise ab.
The new measures partially curbed the rise in prices through subsidies.
Die neuen Maßnahmen stoppten den Preisanstieg zunächst vollständig.
The new measures initially stopped the rise in prices completely.
