abrutschen
to slip
To unintentionally lose one's grip or footing and slide downward.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, der Pfad ist nass und man kann leicht abrutschen.
Be careful, the path is wet and you can easily slip.
abrutschen
to slip / to slide down
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Meanings
abrutschen
to slip
To get worse in performance, quality, or level.
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Trainerwechsel ist die Mannschaft auf den letzten Tabellenplatz abgerutscht.
Since the change of coach, the team has slipped to last place in the table.
abrutschen
to slide into
To fall into a negative social or moral state.
EXAMPLE
Nachdem er seinen Job verloren hatte, drohte er in die Alkoholsucht abzurutschen.
After he lost his job, he was in danger of sliding into alcoholism.
abrutschen
to slip down
For clothing: not to stay in the intended position, but to slide downward.
EXAMPLE
Der Träger meines Rucksacks rutscht mir ständig von der Schulter ab.
The strap of my backpack keeps slipping off my shoulder.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abrutschen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab-' goes at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, der Hang rutscht bei Regen ab.
Careful, the slope slides down when it rains.
Auxiliary verb in the perfect tense
Since 'abrutschen' always describes a movement or a change of state, the perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be) in all meanings.
EXAMPLE
Ich bin auf der vereisten Treppe abgerutscht.
I slipped on the icy stairs.
From literal to figurative
The literal meaning of sliding downward is transferred to other areas. In a figurative sense, you can 'abrutschen' (slide) into a bad situation, poor performance, or a low social status.
EXAMPLE
Ohne Unterstützung der Familie wäre er vielleicht in die Kriminalität abgerutscht.
Without support from his family, he might have slid into crime.
Prepositions for the state
When a decline is described, a preposition is often used to indicate the result. Typical are 'abrutschen auf' + accusative (for a rank) or 'abrutschen in' + accusative (for a state).
EXAMPLE
Der Verein ist auf den vorletzten Tabellenplatz abgerutscht.
The club has slipped to second-to-last place in the table.
Dative construction
When clothing or objects slip down from a person, that person is in the dative. The slipping item is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Mir rutscht ständig die Hose.
My pants keep slipping down.
Compare with
abrutschen vs rutschen
to slip / slide
Rutschen generally refers to an unintended gliding movement on a smooth surface. Abrutschen, by contrast, emphasizes that someone or something loses its grip, an edge, or a position and then slides downward. Use “rutschen” for the general movement and “abrutschen” when the loss of grip is the focus.
abrutschen
Die Kiste rutschte von der Rampe ab und fiel nach unten.
The crate slipped off the ramp and fell downward.
rutschen
Die Kiste rutschte auf dem glatten Boden langsam nach unten.
The crate slowly slid downward across the smooth floor.
In real life
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