leverage / pressure tactic
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leverage / pressure tactic
A means or action used to force a person or group to do or refrain from doing something specific. It is used to apply targeted pressure in order to achieve a goal.
Die Gewerkschaft nutzte den Streik als Druckmittel in den Tarifverhandlungen.
The union used the strike as leverage in the collective bargaining negotiations.
The word is made up of 'Druck' (pressure) and 'Mittel' (means/tool). So it literally describes a means or tool with which you apply pressure to someone.
Die Enthüllungen dienten der Presse als Druckmittel gegen den Politiker.
The revelations served the press as leverage against the politician.
'Druckmittel' (leverage/pressure tactic) is often combined with verbs such as 'einsetzen' (to deploy/use), 'benutzen' (to use), 'anwenden' (to apply), or 'haben' (to have).
Er hatte kein Druckmittel, um seine Forderungen durchzusetzen.
He had no leverage to enforce his demands.
The construction 'etwas als Druckmittel benutzen' (to use something as leverage/a pressure tactic) is often used to describe which lever is being applied.
Sie benutzte die Information als Druckmittel, um eine Gehaltserhöhung zu bekommen.
She used the information as leverage to get a raise.
sanction
'die Sanktion' and 'das Druckmittel' can both be used to get someone to behave in a certain way. However, a 'Sanktion' is a concrete punishment or restriction, often as a response to a rule violation. In politics, sanctions are, for example, economic measures against a state. A 'Druckmittel' is more general: it is something used to apply pressure so that someone does or does not do something. Learners may confuse the words because sanctions are often used as leverage or a pressure tactic. Remember: the sanction is the measure itself; the 'Druckmittel' describes the function of that measure.
Der Lieferstopp dient als Druckmittel, damit der Kunde endlich bezahlt.
The delivery stop serves as leverage so that the customer finally pays.
Die Firma bekam eine Sanktion, weil sie wichtige Sicherheitsregeln verletzt hatte.
The company received a sanction because it had violated important safety rules.