01
abschrecken
to deter
To stop someone from doing something by frightening them or pointing out negative consequences.
example
Die hohen Strafen sollen potenzielle Täter abschrecken.
The harsh penalties are meant to deter potential offenders.
abschrecken
to deter / to rinse
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abschrecken' (to deter/scare away/rinse in cold water) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in main clauses. It reinforces the idea of sending away or keeping away.
EXAMPLE
Der laute Hund schreckt alle Besucher ab.
The loud dog scares all visitors away.
Sentence structure with 'von'
When you stop someone from doing something, you use the structure: 'jemanden (Akkusativ) von etwas (Dativ) abschrecken' (to deter someone from something). The preposition 'von' is fixed with the verb here.
EXAMPLE
Lass dich nicht von den Schwierigkeiten abschrecken!
Don't let the difficulties deter you!
Context: cooking
This meaning is used only in the context of food preparation. Typical foods that you 'abschreckt' (rinse in cold water) are eggs, pasta, or vegetables, in order to stop the cooking process.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du die Nudeln nach dem Kochen abschreckst, kleben sie nicht zusammen.
If you rinse the pasta in cold water after cooking it, it won't stick together.
Compare with
abschrecken vs warnen
to warn
'warnen' and 'abschrecken' can both lead to someone not doing something. Use 'warnen' when you make a person aware of a danger or possible consequences. The person can then decide for themselves. 'abschrecken' puts more emphasis on the effect: someone becomes afraid or loses the desire to do something. So you can warn someone without really deterring them. The words can be confused because negative consequences may be mentioned with both. 'warnen' describes the message more, while 'abschrecken' describes preventing something through fear or unpleasant consequences.
abschrecken
Die hohen Kosten haben viele Besucher von der Reise abgeschreckt.
The high costs deterred many visitors from taking the trip.
warnen
Der Bergführer warnte die Gruppe vor dem starken Wind auf dem Gipfel.
The mountain guide warned the group about the strong wind at the summit.
In real life
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