aufreißen
to tear open
To open something quickly with force and energy, often in a way that damages it.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den Briefumschlag ungeduldig aufgerissen.
He impatiently tore open the envelope.
aufreißen
to tear open
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Meanings
aufreißen
to split open
When a surface, such as skin or the ground, develops cracks and opens up.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Kälte ist meine Haut an den Händen aufgerissen.
In the cold, the skin on my hands split open.
aufreißen
to open wide
To open your eyes or mouth wide as a reaction to surprise or shock.
EXAMPLE
Sie riss die Augen auf, als sie das unerwartete Geschenk sah.
She opened her eyes wide when she saw the unexpected gift.
aufreißen
to clear up
When a closed layer of clouds opens up and the sky becomes visible.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Regen riss der Himmel endlich auf.
After the long rain, the sky finally cleared up.
jemanden aufreißen
to pick someone up
Colloquial for trying to get to know someone in order to start a romantic or sexual relationship.
EXAMPLE
Er geht jeden Samstag in die Bar, um Frauen aufzureißen.
He goes to the bar every Saturday to pick up women.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Aufreißen' (to tear open) is a separable verb. The prefix 'auf-' comes at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er reißt das Fenster mit einem Ruck auf.
He tears the window open with one sudden pull.
Word structure
The verb consists of the prefix 'auf' (which often means 'open') and 'reißen' (to tear). The literal meaning of 'aufreißen' (to tear open) helps you understand many uses where something is opened quickly or suddenly.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Wunde ist beim Sport wieder aufgerissen.
The old wound split open again during sports.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'to open with force', the verb is often used with objects such as 'einen Brief' (a letter), 'eine Packung' (a package), or 'ein Geschenk' (a present).
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder rissen ihre Geschenke ungeduldig auf.
The children impatiently tore open their presents.
Intransitive use
When skin, a wound, or the ground 'aufreißt' (splits open), the verb is used without an object, i.e. intransitively. The subject is the thing that develops cracks by itself.
EXAMPLE
Durch die Trockenheit ist der Erdboden aufgerissen.
Because of the dryness, the ground has split open.
Fixed expressions
As a reaction to surprise or shock, 'aufreißen' (to open wide) is almost always used in the fixed expressions 'die Augen aufreißen' (to open one's eyes wide) or 'den Mund aufreißen' (to open one's mouth wide).
EXAMPLE
Er riss den Mund auf, als er den Preis hörte.
He opened his mouth wide when he heard the price.
Register and use
The meaning 'to approach someone in order to start a relationship' is very colloquial. In this use, the verb always needs an accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Er hat versucht, sie auf der Party aufzureißen.
He tried to pick her up at the party.
Compare with
aufreißen vs öffnen
to open
Öffnen and aufreißen can both mean making something closed accessible. Aufreißen, however, emphasizes a quick, forceful action that is often damaging, while öffnen remains neutral. Use öffnen when handling something carefully and aufreißen when the forcefulness or possible damage is important.
aufreißen
Er riss den Umschlag hastig auf, weil er die Nachricht sofort lesen wollte.
He hurriedly tore open the envelope because he wanted to read the message immediately.
öffnen
Sie öffnete den Umschlag vorsichtig mit einem Messer.
She carefully opened the envelope with a knife.
In real life
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