elevator / outfit / act
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elevator
A technical system that transports people or loads in a cabin vertically between the floors of a building; an elevator or lift.
Der Aufzug ist leider kaputt, wir müssen die Treppe nehmen.
The elevator is unfortunately broken; we have to take the stairs.
All meanings of 'Aufzug' (elevator/outfit/act) derive from the verb 'aufziehen'. You can 'aufziehen' (pull up) an elevator, 'aufziehen' (dress up) in a striking way, or 'aufziehen' (raise) the curtain for a theater act.
Früher wurden die Gewichte für die Turmuhr von Hand aufgezogen.
In the past, the weights for the tower clock were wound up by hand.
In connection with an elevator, the most common phrases are 'den Aufzug nehmen' (to take the elevator) or 'mit dem Aufzug fahren' (to ride the elevator). A typical problem situation is 'im Aufzug stecken bleiben' (to get stuck in the elevator).
In den zehnten Stock nehme ich lieber den Aufzug.
I'd rather take the elevator to the tenth floor.
In Austria and parts of Switzerland, the word 'der Lift' (the lift/elevator) is more common than 'der Aufzug' for this meaning.
Wir nehmen den Lift in den fünften Stock.
We'll take the lift to the fifth floor.
In the meaning 'Kleidung' (clothing), 'Aufzug' (outfit) almost always has an ironic or critical connotation. It is used to describe a particularly striking, inappropriate, or extravagant appearance.
Er erschien in einem goldenen Anzug zur Party – was für ein Aufzug!
He showed up at the party in a gold suit—what an outfit!
This meaning belongs to the technical language of theater. You can recognize it by the fact that 'Aufzug' (act) is almost always combined with an ordinal number (first, second, third...).
Im ersten Aufzug werden die Hauptfiguren vorgestellt.
In the first act, the main characters are introduced.
scene
'die Szene' and 'der Aufzug' can both refer to parts of a play, but they are different in size. A 'Szene' is a short section with a connected action. An 'Aufzug' is a large main section of a play, similar to an act. One 'Aufzug' can contain several scenes. The words can be confused because both describe the structure of a play. As a guide: small and concrete is 'Szene'; large and higher-level is 'Aufzug'.
Im zweiten Aufzug verändert sich die Stimmung des ganzen Stücks.
In the second act, the mood of the entire play changes.
Herr Wagner probt die Szene, in der die Familie die schlechte Nachricht bekommt.
Mr. Wagner is rehearsing the scene in which the family receives the bad news.