anchor
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anchor
A heavy metal object that is lowered from a ship into the water to hold it on the seabed and prevent it from drifting away.
Der Kapitän gab den Befehl, den Anker zu lichten.
The captain gave the order to weigh anchor.
In a maritime context, there are fixed expressions: 'den Anker werfen' or 'den Anker auswerfen' (to drop anchor), to stop; 'den Anker lichten' (to weigh anchor), to set off; and 'vor Anker liegen' (to be at anchor), to describe the state of waiting.
Das Schiff liegt seit gestern vor Anker.
The ship has been at anchor since yesterday.
The figurative meaning of 'Halt und Sicherheit' (support and security) comes directly from the function of a ship's anchor. Just as the anchor holds a ship in place, a person or an idea can provide stability in life.
Seine Prinzipien waren der feste Anker in seinem Leben.
His principles were the firm anchor in his life.
In the figurative meaning, 'Anker' (anchor) is often combined with adjectives such as 'fest' (firm) or 'sicher' (secure). Another common expression is that someone is 'der Anker in der Not' (the anchor in times of need).
Für die Kinder war die Großmutter der sichere Anker der Familie.
For the children, their grandmother was the secure anchor of the family.
The meanings of 'Anker' (anchor) in construction engineering or in electric motors are technical language. In normal everyday life, you will hear this term almost exclusively for ships or in the figurative sense.
Der Elektriker muss den Anker des Motors austauschen.
The electrician has to replace the motor's armature.
safety / certainty / security
'die Sicherheit' and 'der Anker' can both have to do with someone getting support and feeling less uncertain. However, 'Sicherheit' is the general state: you are protected or have certainty. In this relationship, 'Anker' is used figuratively for a person or thing that gives you support. Learners may confuse the words because an anchor can provide security. But 'Sicherheit' is the result or feeling, while 'Anker' is more the source of it.
Für Max ist seine Schwester ein wichtiger Anker, wenn es ihm schlecht geht.
For Max, his sister is an important anchor when he is feeling bad.
Nach dem Erste-Hilfe-Kurs hatte Lisa mehr Sicherheit im Umgang mit Notfällen.
After the first-aid course, Lisa felt more confident dealing with emergencies.