auftreiben
to procure
To find or obtain someone or something with effort.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss für die Party noch irgendwo ein paar zusätzliche Stühle auftreiben.
I still have to procure a few extra chairs somewhere for the party.
auftreiben
to procure / float up
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Meanings
auftreiben
to float up
To rise upward in a liquid or reach the surface, for example through buoyancy.
EXAMPLE
Das im Wasser liegende Holz begann langsam aufzutreiben.
The wood lying in the water slowly began to float up.
auftreiben
to swell
In medical contexts or with animals: to swell or become bloated.
EXAMPLE
Durch die Krankheit war der Bauch des Tieres stark aufgetrieben.
Because of the illness, the animal's belly was severely swollen.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Auftreiben' is a separable verb. The prefix 'auf-' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er treibt für seine alte Kamera noch Ersatzteile auf.
He is still procuring spare parts for his old camera.
Context clues
The meaning depends strongly on the subject. If a person is the subject, it means 'beschaffen' (to obtain/procure). If the subject is an inanimate thing in a liquid, it means 'an die Oberfläche steigen' (to rise to the surface). If it refers to a body or body part, it means 'anschwellen' (to swell).
EXAMPLE
Der Manager muss schnell einen neuen Investor auftreiben.
The manager has to quickly procure a new investor.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'beschaffen' (to obtain/procure), 'auftreiben' is often used for things that are hard to find. Typical objects are 'Geld' (money), 'Informationen' (information), 'Ersatzteile' (spare parts), or 'Zeugen' (witnesses).
EXAMPLE
Die Journalistin konnte geheime Dokumente für ihre Geschichte auftreiben.
The journalist was able to procure secret documents for her story.
Register
The meaning 'anschwellen' (to swell) is mainly used in medicine or veterinary medicine. For example, people speak of an 'aufgetriebener Bauch' (bloated belly).
EXAMPLE
Der Tierarzt stellte fest, dass der Bauch der Kuh aufgetrieben war.
The vet found that the cow's belly was bloated.
Compare with
auftreiben vs organisieren
to organize
In informal usage, both organisieren and auftreiben can refer to getting something that is needed. Organisieren emphasizes arranging or facilitating the acquisition. Auftreiben highlights that the item is difficult to find and can only be obtained with effort.
auftreiben
Lukas treibt nach langer Suche noch zwei Karten für das ausverkaufte Konzert auf.
After a long search, Lukas managed to track down two more tickets for the sold-out concert.
organisieren
Lukas organisiert kurzfristig zwei weitere Karten über einen Bekannten.
Lukas arranged two more tickets at short notice through an acquaintance.
In real life
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