das Abseits
out of the way
A place or area that lies outside the center or away from where normal activity takes place.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Dorf liegt weit im Abseits.
The small village is far off the beaten track.
das Abseits
offside / out of the way
das Abseits, die Abseits
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Meanings
das Abseits
offside
In soccer, an infringement in which an attacking player is closer to the opponents' goal line than the ball and the second-to-last opposing player when the ball is played to them.
EXAMPLE
Der Schiedsrichter erkannte auf Abseits, weil der Stürmer beim Zuspiel zu weit vorne stand.
The referee called offside because the striker was too far forward when the ball was played to him.
ins Abseits geraten
to be sidelined
To end up in an unfavorable or socially overlooked position and consequently lose influence or importance.
EXAMPLE
Durch den Skandal geriet der Politiker ins Abseits.
The scandal caused the politician to be sidelined.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Abseits, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Abseits |
| genitive | des Abseits |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Abseits | die Abseits |
| accusative | das Abseits | die Abseits |
| dative | dem Abseits | den Abseits |
| genitive | des Abseits | der Abseits |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
In soccer, words such as „Stürmer“ (striker), „Zuspiel“ (pass), „Torlinie“ (goal line), or „Schiedsrichter“ (referee) point to the sporting meaning. When the topic is influence, career, or social recognition, the figurative meaning is usually intended; in descriptions of places, it refers to a location outside the center.
EXAMPLE
Der Schiedsrichter pfiff Abseits nach einem Zuspiel in den Strafraum.
The referee called offside after a pass into the penalty area.
Nach dem Streit geriet die Wissenschaftlerin ins Abseits.
After the argument, the scientist was sidelined.
Das abgelegene Haus liegt weit im Abseits.
The remote house is far off the beaten track.
Typical collocations
The spatial meaning often appears with verbs such as „liegen“ (to lie) or „leben“ (to live) in the phrase „im Abseits“. The word often describes a remote place away from where normal activity takes place.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Forsthaus liegt tief im Abseits.
The old forester's lodge lies deep in the middle of nowhere.
Die Berghütte liegt im Abseits und ist nur über einen schmalen Pfad erreichbar.
The mountain hut lies out of the way and can only be reached via a narrow path.
Soccer terminology
In soccer reports, „Abseits“ is often used with „auf Abseits entscheiden“ (to call offside), „im Abseits stehen“ (to be offside), or „wegen Abseits zurückpfeifen“ (to blow the whistle and stop play for offside). The expression refers to a refereeing decision during an attack.
EXAMPLE
Der Schiedsrichter entschied nach dem Pass auf Abseits.
The referee called offside after the pass.
Der Stürmer stand beim Zuspiel knapp im Abseits.
The striker was just offside when the ball was played to him.
Fixed expression
The figurative meaning is especially common in the fixed expression „ins Abseits geraten“ (to be sidelined). It describes a person or group losing influence, attention, or importance.
EXAMPLE
Nach mehreren Fehlentscheidungen geriet die Trainerin im eigenen Verein ins Abseits.
After several poor decisions, the coach was sidelined within her own club.
In real life
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