to threaten
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to threaten
To announce a negative consequence to someone in order to intimidate them or force them to behave in a certain way.
Er drohte ihm mit einer Klage, wenn er das Geld nicht zurückzahlt.
He threatened him with a lawsuit if he didn't pay back the money.
The verb 'drohen' (to threaten) is the action that leads to the noun 'die Drohung' (the threat). When someone threatens, they make a threat.
Seine Drohung machte mir keine Angst.
His threat didn't scare me.
You can distinguish the meanings easily: when one person threatens another, the threatened person is in the dative. When a danger is imminent, the subject of the sentence is the danger itself or the impersonal 'es' (it).
Der Chef drohte dem Mitarbeiter mit der Kündigung.
The boss threatened the employee with dismissal.
When one person threatens another, the person being threatened is always in the dative. A common mistake is using the accusative.
Sie drohte ihm mit rechtlichen Schritten.
She threatened him with legal action.
To describe a threatening action, the construction 'drohen, zu + infinitive' is often used. The verb 'drohen' is conjugated and stands in second position in the main clause.
Das alte Gebäude droht einzustürzen.
The old building threatens to collapse.
The meaning 'to loom threateningly' is mainly used in literature or figurative language to create a gloomy atmosphere. It is rarely used in normal everyday speech.
Die dunklen Berge drohten über dem kleinen Dorf.
The dark mountains loomed over the small village.
to threaten
'drohen' and 'bedrohen' both have to do with danger or pressure. 'drohen' is used when someone announces a negative consequence, or when a bad event is becoming likely. 'bedrohen' is stronger and more direct: a person or thing is really in danger or is being intimidated by someone. You can 'jemandem mit Kündigung drohen' (threaten someone with dismissal), but 'eine Person mit Gewalt bedrohen' (threaten a person with violence). The words are easy to confuse because in both cases fear is created. 'drohen' often emphasizes the announcement, while 'bedrohen' emphasizes the danger to someone or something.
Der Chef droht dem Mitarbeiter mit einer Abmahnung, wenn er wieder zu spät kommt.
The boss threatens the employee with a formal warning if he is late again.
Der starke Sturm bedroht mehrere Häuser am Fluss.
The strong storm threatens several houses by the river.