ausmachen
to turn off
To turn off a device, a source of light, or a fire so that it no longer works or burns.
EXAMPLE
Bitte mach das Licht aus, wenn du den Raum verlässt.
Please turn off the light when you leave the room.
ausmachen
to turn off / make up / arrange
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Meanings
ausmachen
to make up
To form a certain part of a whole or amount to a certain sum.
EXAMPLE
Touristen machen einen großen Teil der Kundschaft aus.
Tourists make up a large part of the clientele.
jemandem etwas ausmachen
to bother someone
To be a problem or disturbance for someone; to bother someone.
EXAMPLE
Macht es Ihnen etwas aus, wenn ich das Fenster öffne?
Would it bother you if I opened the window?
ausmachen
to arrange
To arrange or agree on something.
EXAMPLE
Wir hatten doch ausgemacht, dass du heute den Müll rausbringst.
But we agreed that you would take out the trash today.
ausmachen
to make out
To recognize, detect, or identify someone or something, often from a distance or under difficult conditions.
EXAMPLE
Im dichten Nebel konnte ich kaum die Umrisse des Hauses ausmachen.
In the thick fog, I could barely make out the outline of the house.
etwas unter sich ausmachen
to settle among themselves
To resolve a matter or dispute directly between the people involved, without involving others.
EXAMPLE
Das ist eine private Sache, das müssen die beiden unter sich ausmachen.
That's a private matter; the two of them have to settle it among themselves.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Ausmachen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'aus' goes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er macht den Fernseher immer sofort aus.
He always turns off the TV immediately.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'ausschalten' (to turn off), 'ausmachen' is typically used with devices, sources of light, or fire. Common objects are: 'das Licht' (the light), 'das Radio' (the radio), 'der Computer' (the computer), 'die Heizung' (the heating), 'eine Kerze' (a candle).
EXAMPLE
Hast du die Kaffeemaschine ausgemacht, bevor wir gegangen sind?
Did you turn off the coffee machine before we left?
Sentence structure: part and whole
In the meaning 'einen Teil bilden' (to form a part), the verb often follows the pattern '[part] macht [whole/amount] aus'. The part is the subject, and the whole or amount is the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Die Personalkosten machen den größten Teil der Ausgaben aus.
Personnel costs make up the largest part of the expenses.
Dative construction
When something is bothersome, you use the structure 'etwas macht [person in the dative] etwas aus'. The question 'Macht es Ihnen/dir etwas aus, wenn ...?' (Would it bother you if ...? / Would you mind if ...?) is especially common.
EXAMPLE
Der Lärm von der Baustelle macht mir gar nichts aus.
The noise from the construction site doesn't bother me at all.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'vereinbaren' (to arrange/agree on), 'ausmachen' is often combined with things that you plan. Typical examples are: 'einen Termin ausmachen' (to arrange an appointment), 'einen Treffpunkt ausmachen' (to agree on a meeting point), 'einen Preis ausmachen' (to agree on a price).
EXAMPLE
Können wir für nächste Woche einen neuen Termin ausmachen?
Can we arrange a new appointment for next week?
Context: difficult visibility
In the meaning 'erkennen' (to recognize/make out), 'ausmachen' is often used when perception is difficult, for example because of darkness, fog, or great distance.
EXAMPLE
In der Ferne konnte man ein kleines Licht ausmachen.
In the distance, you could make out a small light.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas unter sich ausmachen' means that a group settles something without outside interference. The reflexive pronoun 'sich' is adjusted to match the people involved.
EXAMPLE
Das ist euer Streit, das müsst ihr unter euch ausmachen.
That's your dispute; you have to settle it among yourselves.
Compare with
bedeutenerkennenentdeckenbildenbetragenergebenunterscheidenlöschenstörenidentifizierenvereinbarenausdrückenabschaltenentfallenausschaltensichtenabsprechenverabredenauslöschenabmachen
ausmachen vs bedeuten
to mean
Both constructions describe the effect something has on a person. Something bedeutet jemandem viel when it has personal or emotional value; something macht jemandem viel aus when it is a problem or disturbance that causes difficulty. Choose the word according to this effect.
ausmachen
Die laute Musik meiner Kollegin macht mir bei diesem Projekt viel aus.
The loud music from my colleague bothers me during this project.
bedeuten
Die Unterstützung meiner Kollegin bedeutet mir bei diesem Projekt viel.
My colleague's support means a lot to me on this project.
In real life
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