ausnehmen
to gut
To remove the internal organs of an animal, especially a fish or poultry, before preparing it.
EXAMPLE
Der Koch zeigte uns, wie man eine Forelle fachgerecht ausnimmt.
The cook showed us how to gut a trout properly.
ausnehmen
to gut / exclude / rip off
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Meanings
jemanden/etwas ausnehmen
to exclude
To make an exception for someone or something; to exclude someone or something from a rule, a group, or a general statement.
EXAMPLE
Alle müssen mithelfen, niemand wird ausgenommen!
Everyone has to help; no one is excluded!
jemanden ausnehmen
to rip off
Colloquial: to take someone's money in an unfair way, often through fraud or inflated prices.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf bei diesem Verkäufer, der ist dafür bekannt, Touristen auszunehmen.
Be careful with that seller; he's known for ripping off tourists.
sich ausnehmen
to appear
To make a certain impression; to seem or look a certain way. This use is rather formal or old-fashioned.
EXAMPLE
Seine plötzliche Freundlichkeit nahm sich nach dem Streit etwas seltsam aus.
His sudden friendliness appeared somewhat strange after the argument.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Ausnehmen' (to gut / exclude / rip off) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'aus-' comes at the end. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Fischer nimmt den Fisch sofort aus.
The fisherman guts the fish immediately.
Word structure
The verb consists of 'aus' and 'nehmen'. The logic of 'taking something out' helps with understanding all meanings: taking the organs out of an animal, taking a person out of a group, or taking the money out of someone's pocket.
EXAMPLE
Wer nimmt das Huhn für das Abendessen aus?
Who is gutting the chicken for dinner?
Context clue
The meaning becomes clear from the context. If it is about cooking, such as fish or poultry, it means removing organs. If it is about rules or groups, it means making an exception. If it is about money and fraud, the colloquial meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Zuerst muss man den Karpfen ausnehmen und waschen.
First you have to gut and wash the carp.
Sentence structure and usage pattern
When an exception is made, the thing or person that is excluded from the rule is in the accusative. A prepositional phrase with 'von' often follows to name the group or rule.
EXAMPLE
Kinder unter sechs Jahren sind von der Maskenpflicht ausgenommen.
Children under six are exempt from the mask requirement.
Register and style
In the meaning 'to take someone's money through fraud', 'ausnehmen' (to rip off) is very colloquial. It is used in informal conversation, but not in formal texts.
EXAMPLE
Lass dich von den Verkäufern am Strand nicht ausnehmen!
Don't let the sellers on the beach rip you off!
Compare with
ausnehmen vs wirken
to seem / take effect
Wirken and sich ausnehmen both describe the impression something makes. Sich ausnehmen, however, is more formal or old-fashioned and often emphasizes the effect something has in a particular setting. Wirken is more suitable in everyday situations; sich ausnehmen can be appropriate in a formal assessment.
ausnehmen
In der formellen Beschreibung heißt es, dass sich das rote Sofa in dem hellen Raum sehr elegant ausnimmt.
The formal description says that the red sofa looks very elegant in the bright room.
wirken
Das rote Sofa wirkt in dem hellen Raum sehr elegant.
The red sofa looks very elegant in the bright room.
In real life
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