to cordon off / shut off / lock
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to cordon off
To make an area or route inaccessible with a barrier, such as tape or a fence, so that no one can enter or pass through.
Die Polizei musste die gesamte Straße wegen des Unfalls absperren.
The police had to cordon off the entire street because of the accident.
to shut off
To interrupt the supply of gas, water, or another line by closing the main tap or a valve.
Bevor wir in den Urlaub fahren, müssen wir den Haupthahn für das Wasser absperren.
Before we go on vacation, we have to shut off the main water valve.
to lock up
To secure a door or gate by locking it, often in the sense of closing it definitively or especially thoroughly.
Hast du daran gedacht, den Keller abzusperren?
Did you remember to lock up the basement?
'Absperren' (to cordon off / shut off / lock) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' comes at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' comes between 'ab' and 'sperren'.
Ein Polizist sperrt die Unfallstelle ab.
A police officer cordons off the accident site.
The accusative object reveals the exact meaning. A place ('Straße' — street, 'Bereich' — area) is blocked off, a supply line ('Wasser' — water, 'Gas' — gas) is shut off, and a door ('Keller' — basement, 'Garage' — garage) is locked.
Wegen des Konzerts sperrt die Stadt die Innenstadt ab.
Because of the concert, the city is cordoning off the city center.
When an area is cordoned off, this is often done by 'die Polizei' (the police) or 'die Feuerwehr' (the fire department). Common tools used are 'ein Absperrband' (barrier tape) or 'Gitter' (barriers/fences).
Die Feuerwehr hat das brennende Gebäude weiträumig abgesperrt.
The fire department cordoned off a wide area around the burning building.
A very common and important combination is 'den Haupthahn absperren' (to shut off the main valve). This usually refers to the central water or gas supply in a building.
Bei einem Wasserrohrbruch sollte man sofort den Haupthahn absperren.
If a water pipe bursts, you should shut off the main valve immediately.
to lock / to complete
Both words can express that access can no longer be used. „Abschließen“ emphasizes locking a door or room, while „absperren“ often highlights a visible barrier or a comprehensive restriction of access. When a key is involved, „abschließen“ is the appropriate choice; for a blocked-off area, „absperren“ is more suitable.
Der Hausmeister sperrt den Eingang mit einem Gitter ab, damit niemand hineingeht.
The caretaker blocks off the entrance with a gate so that no one goes in.
Der Hausmeister schließt den Nebenraum ab, damit niemand hineingeht.
The caretaker locks the side room so that no one goes in.
