to burn / to set fire to
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to burn / scorch
When cooking, to stick to the bottom of a pot or pan and burn because the heat is too high. The perfect tense is often formed with 'sein' (to be).
Pass auf, dass die Milch nicht anbrennt!
Be careful that the milk doesn't burn!
to miss no opportunity
A colloquial expression meaning to take no risks and have everything under control, or also to make use of every opportunity, often romantic ones.
Bei der Party hat er wirklich nichts anbrennen lassen und mit jedem geflirtet.
At the party, he really didn't miss any opportunity and flirted with everyone.
to set fire to
To deliberately set something on fire or light it. This use is less common than 'anzünden' (to light, to set on fire).
Der Förster hat das Reisig kontrolliert angebrannt.
The forester set fire to the brushwood in a controlled way.
'Anbrennen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' goes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Vorsicht, die Soße brennt an!
Careful, the sauce is burning!
The auxiliary verb in the perfect tense depends on the meaning. When food burns, intransitively, you use 'sein' (to be). When someone sets something on fire, transitively, you use 'haben' (to have).
Mir ist der Kuchen im Ofen angebrannt.
My cake burned in the oven.
In its most common meaning, 'anbrennen' refers to food that sticks to the bottom of a pot or pan while cooking and burns. The subject is then usually a dish or food item.
Kannst du bitte umrühren, damit der Reis nicht anbrennt?
Could you please stir it so the rice doesn't burn?
The idiom 'nichts anbrennen lassen' is a fixed unit. It is used colloquially and means that someone takes no risks or makes use of every opportunity.
Er ist sehr ehrgeizig und lässt bei keinem Projekt etwas anbrennen.
He is very ambitious and leaves nothing to chance in any project.
to burn
When cooking, verbrennen emphasizes that food is severely damaged or turns black because of high heat. Anbrennen more specifically means that it sticks to the bottom of the pot or pan and burns there. Anbrennen is the appropriate word for this contact with the cooking vessel.
Die Kartoffeln brannten am Boden des Topfes an.
The potatoes stuck to the bottom of the pot and burned.
Die Kartoffeln verbrannten im Ofen und wurden völlig schwarz.
The potatoes burned in the oven and turned completely black.
