abhauen
to run off
Colloquial for leaving a place quickly and often secretly; to run away or flee.
EXAMPLE
Als die Polizei eintraf, sind die Jugendlichen sofort abgehauen.
When the police arrived, the teenagers ran off immediately.
abhauen
to run off / chop off
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Meanings
abhauen
to chop off
To separate something by striking it with a sharp tool.
EXAMPLE
Der Förster hat die trockenen Äste vom Baum abgehauen.
The forester chopped the dry branches off the tree.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abhauen' (to run off/to chop off) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er haut heute Abend früher von der Arbeit ab.
He's leaving work early this evening.
Auxiliary verb in the perfect tense
The auxiliary verb in the perfect tense depends on the meaning. For 'weglaufen' (to run away), a movement, 'sein' is used. For 'abtrennen' (to cut off/separate), an action with an object, 'haben' is used.
EXAMPLE
Der Hund ist gestern schon wieder abgehauen.
The dog ran off again yesterday.
Register and style
In the meaning 'weglaufen' (to run away), 'abhauen' is very colloquial. It is used among friends or in informal situations.
EXAMPLE
Lass uns von dieser langweiligen Party abhauen.
Let's get out of this boring party.
Imperative form
The command 'Hau ab!' (Get lost!) is a very direct and impolite demand to disappear. It is often used out of anger or annoyance.
EXAMPLE
Hau ab und lass mich endlich in Ruhe!
Get lost and finally leave me alone!
Compare with
abhauen vs verschwinden
to disappear
Verschwinden and abhauen can both express a rude command to leave. “Verschwinde!” is mainly direct and dismissive. “Hau ab!” is more colloquial and typically tells someone to leave the place quickly.
abhauen
Der Wachmann rief dem Störer salopp zu: „Hau sofort ab!“
The security guard called out casually to the troublemaker, “Get out of here right now!”
verschwinden
Der Wachmann befahl dem Störer direkt: „Verschwinde sofort!“
The security guard directly ordered the troublemaker, “Get lost immediately!”
In real life
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