starting position
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starting position
The initial position, situation, or state from which a development, action, or process begins.
Unsere Ausgangsposition für die Gehaltsverhandlungen ist dieses Jahr deutlich besser als letztes Jahr.
Our starting position for the salary negotiations is significantly better this year than last year.
The word is made up of 'Ausgang' (starting point) and 'Position' (position, location). So it literally describes the position from which one proceeds or starts.
Vor dem Start des Experiments müssen alle Messgeräte in ihre Ausgangsposition gebracht werden.
Before the start of the experiment, all measuring devices must be brought into their starting position.
The meaning is easy to recognize from context. If it is about sports, fitness, or a physical posture, it refers to the starting stance. In contexts such as politics, business, or strategy, it refers to the initial situation.
Für die Übung stellen Sie sich bitte hüftbreit hin. Das ist die Ausgangsposition.
For the exercise, please stand with your feet hip-width apart. That is the starting position.
In the figurative sense, the word is often combined with adjectives that evaluate the situation. Typical phrases are 'eine gute/schlechte Ausgangsposition' (a good/bad starting position), 'eine schwierige Ausgangsposition' (a difficult starting position), or 'eine vielversprechende Ausgangsposition' (a promising starting position).
Mit mehr Erfahrung haben wir jetzt eine bessere Ausgangsposition für das Projekt.
With more experience, we now have a better starting position for the project.
In a sports context, verbs often describe the movement into or out of the starting stance. Common phrases are 'in die Ausgangsposition gehen' (to get into the starting position), 'die Ausgangsposition einnehmen' (to assume the starting position), or 'in die Ausgangsposition zurückkehren' (to return to the starting position).
Nach jeder Wiederholung kehren Sie langsam in die Ausgangsposition zurück.
After each repetition, slowly return to the starting position.
starting point
'der Ausgangspunkt' and 'die Ausgangsposition' can both describe where or with what something begins. 'der Ausgangspunkt' often means the basis for a line of thought, a plan, or a development. 'die Ausgangsposition' more often means the initial situation or position from which someone acts. This can be a situation in negotiations, or quite literally a body position in sports. Learners may confuse the words because both mark a beginning. As a simple guide: 'Ausgangspunkt' fits well with a question or idea; 'Ausgangsposition' fits well with a situation, position, or starting position.
Vor dem Training zeigt Karim die richtige Ausgangsposition für die Übung.
Before the training session, Karim shows the correct starting position for the exercise.
Wegen des Wetters ist der Bahnhof heute der Ausgangspunkt unserer Tour.
Because of the weather, the train station is the starting point of our tour today.