to subtract / peel off
Loading your saved state.
to subtract
To subtract an amount of money or a number from another.
Vom Bruttogehalt muss man noch die Steuern und Sozialversicherungsbeiträge abziehen.
Taxes and social security contributions still have to be subtracted from the gross salary.
to peel off
To remove or detach something that sticks to a surface, for example a film, label, or the skin of vegetables.
Nach dem Sonnenbrand konnte sie die Haut an den Schultern abziehen.
After the sunburn, she was able to peel the skin off her shoulders.
to take off
Colloquial for leaving, going away from a place.
Die Party ist langweilig, lass uns abziehen!
The party is boring, let's take off!
to withdraw
To withdraw soldiers or troops from an occupied or controlled area.
Die fremden Mächte haben zugestimmt, ihre Truppen bis zum Jahresende abzuziehen.
The foreign powers have agreed to withdraw their troops by the end of the year.
to print
To make a copy or print of a photo, drawing, or printed image.
Ich muss die Fotos vom letzten Urlaub noch abziehen lassen.
I still need to have the photos from my last vacation printed.
to hone
To sharpen the blade of a knife by running it over a whetstone or honing steel.
Der Metzger zog sein Messer sorgfältig ab, bevor er das Fleisch schnitt.
The butcher carefully honed his knife before cutting the meat.
'Abziehen' (to subtract / peel off) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab-' moves to the end of the sentence. In a subordinate clause, the whole verb stands at the end.
Ich ziehe die Schutzfolie vorsichtig ab.
I carefully peel off the protective film.
The context makes the meaning of 'abziehen' clear. If it is about numbers, it means 'subtrahieren' (to subtract). If it is about a surface, it means 'entfernen' (to remove). In a military context it refers to troops; in colloquial contexts it means leaving a place.
Zieh 5 von 20 ab, dann hast du 15.
Subtract 5 from 20, then you have 15.
In the mathematical meaning 'subtrahieren' (to subtract), 'abziehen' is always used with the preposition 'von' + dative to indicate the original amount.
Wenn du den Rabatt vom Preis abziehst, wird es günstiger.
If you subtract the discount from the price, it becomes cheaper.
When 'abziehen' means 'entfernen' (to remove), the objects are often thin layers that stick to something. Typical examples are: ein Etikett abziehen (to peel off a label), einen Aufkleber abziehen (to peel off a sticker), or eine Folie abziehen (to peel off a film).
Kannst du mir helfen, das alte Preisschild vom Buch abzuziehen?
Can you help me peel the old price tag off the book?
The meaning 'weggehen' (to leave) or 'einen Ort verlassen' (to leave a place) is colloquial. It is mostly used among friends or in informal situations.
Es wird spät, ich glaube, wir ziehen langsam ab.
It's getting late; I think we should slowly take off.
In the meaning 'zurückziehen' (to withdraw), 'abziehen' is used almost exclusively in military or political contexts for troops, soldiers, or personnel.
Die Organisation musste ihre Mitarbeiter aus dem Krisengebiet abziehen.
The organization had to withdraw its staff from the crisis area.
to remove
With a protective film, both verbs can work. „Entfernen“ neutrally states that the film is no longer on the surface afterward. „Abziehen“, on the other hand, emphasizes the typical movement of lifting the adhesive film and pulling it off the surface.
Mia zieht die Schutzfolie langsam vom neuen Display ab.
Mia slowly peels the protective film off the new display.
Mia entfernt die Schutzfolie vom neuen Display.
Mia removes the protective film from the new display.
