extreme
das Extrem, die Extreme
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extreme
A state, attitude, or value at the outermost edge of a range, far from the middle. The word often refers to one of two very strong opposites.
Zwischen den Extremen völliger Freiheit und strenger Kontrolle muss die Schule einen Mittelweg finden.
Between the extremes of complete freedom and strict control, the school has to find a middle ground.
to go from one extreme to the other
To switch from a very one-sided attitude or behavior to the opposite one without finding a middle ground.
Er fällt von einem Extrem ins andere: Erst gibt er sein ganzes Geld aus, dann spart er sogar am Essen.
He goes from one extreme to the other: first he spends all his money, then he even scrimps on food.
to take something to extremes
To intensify something or take it so far that it becomes exaggerated or one-sided.
Sie treibt ihre Sparsamkeit ins Extrem und heizt selbst bei Frost nicht.
She takes her frugality to extremes and does not turn on the heat even when it is freezing.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Extreme |
| genitive | des Extrems |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Extrem | die Extreme |
| accusative | das Extrem | die Extreme |
| dative | dem Extrem | den Extremen |
| genitive | des Extrems | der Extreme |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Expressions such as 'politische Extreme' (political extremes), 'zwischen den Extremen' (between the extremes), and 'das andere Extrem' (the other extreme) are often used with 'Extrem'. Such expressions often indicate that two strongly opposing positions or states are meant.
Politische Extreme erschweren häufig eine sachliche Diskussion.
Political extremes often make objective discussion more difficult.
Zwischen den Extremen gibt es viele vernünftige Zwischenpositionen.
There are many reasonable middle positions between the extremes.
The expression 'von einem Extrem ins andere fallen' (to go from one extreme to the other) describes a switch between two opposing attitudes or patterns of behavior. 'Einem Extrem' is in the dative after 'von'; in 'ins andere', 'Extrem' is not repeated.
Nach einer strengen Diät fiel sie von einem Extrem ins andere und aß wochenlang nur Süßigkeiten.
After a strict diet, she went from one extreme to the other and ate nothing but sweets for weeks.
'Etwas ins Extrem treiben' (to take something to extremes) is used when an action or characteristic becomes so intense that it seems excessive. The intensified behavior appears as the accusative object before 'ins Extrem treiben'.
Er treibt seinen Wunsch nach Ordnung ins Extrem und kontrolliert jeden einzelnen Gegenstand.
He takes his desire for order to extremes and checks every single item.
