detective work
die Detektivarbeit, die Detektivarbeiten
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detective work
The work of a detective: systematically gathering information, following clues, and solving a case.
Die Detektivarbeit dauerte mehrere Wochen, bis die Polizei den Täter gefunden hatte.
The detective work lasted several weeks before the police found the culprit.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Detektivarbeiten |
| genitive | der Detektivarbeit |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Detektivarbeit | die Detektivarbeiten |
| accusative | die Detektivarbeit | die Detektivarbeiten |
| dative | der Detektivarbeit | den Detektivarbeiten |
| genitive | der Detektivarbeit | der Detektivarbeiten |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Detektivarbeit' is made up of 'Detektiv' (detective) and 'Arbeit' (work). It refers to work in which someone systematically gathers information and follows clues like a detective.
Für die Detektivarbeit mussten die Ermittler viele alte Dokumente prüfen.
The investigators had to examine many old documents for their detective work.
Common collocations include 'Detektivarbeit leisten' (to do detective work), 'gründliche Detektivarbeit' (thorough detective work), and 'aufwendige Detektivarbeit' (extensive detective work). The word is often used with verbs and adjectives that describe the effort or precision of the investigation.
Die Journalistin leistete monatelang gründliche Detektivarbeit.
The journalist did thorough detective work for months.
'Detektivarbeit' is also used figuratively outside the contexts of the police and criminal cases to refer to a difficult, systematic search for information. The context then shows that no actual detective work is meant.
Die Suche nach der Ursache des technischen Problems war echte Detektivarbeit.
Finding the cause of the technical problem was real detective work.
