to turn out / emerge
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to turn out to be
To prove to be something or someone different from what was originally thought. Usually, a surprising, often negative, true nature is revealed.
Der vermeintlich harmlose Geschäftspartner entpuppte sich als gerissener Betrüger.
The supposedly harmless business partner turned out to be a cunning fraudster.
to emerge
The development of an insect from the pupal stage to the adult animal. The larva leaves its pupal casing.
Nach einigen Wochen im Kokon wird sich die Raupe als wunderschöner Schmetterling entpuppen.
After a few weeks in the cocoon, the caterpillar will emerge as a beautiful butterfly.
The verb 'entpuppen' (to turn out / emerge) is inseparable. The prefix 'ent-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms and tenses.
Die Idee entpuppte sich als großer Erfolg.
The idea turned out to be a great success.
The word contains 'Puppe' (pupa). The prefix 'ent-' here means 'out of'. Literally, an insect leaves its pupal casing. This idea of 'coming out' is also used in the figurative meaning.
Man kann zusehen, wie sich die Schmetterlinge entpuppen.
You can watch the butterflies emerge.
'Entpuppen' (to turn out / emerge) is a reflexive verb and is always used with 'sich'. In the figurative meaning, it is almost always followed by the preposition 'als' with a description in the nominative.
Das vermeintliche Schnäppchen hat sich als teurer Fehler entpuppt.
The supposed bargain turned out to be an expensive mistake.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the fact that it is about people, plans, or situations. The literal, biological meaning is limited to the context of insects ('Raupe' — caterpillar, 'Schmetterling' — butterfly, 'Kokon' — cocoon).
Die Reise entpuppte sich als echtes Abenteuer.
The trip turned out to be a real adventure.
to turn out / emphasize / put outside
Sich herausstellen and sich entpuppen both describe something becoming apparent later as different from what was initially thought. Sich entpuppen, however, places more emphasis on the surprising, often negative true nature of something. For a neutral realization, use sich herausstellen; for a surprising revelation of someone’s true nature, use sich entpuppen.
Nach mehreren Gesprächen entpuppte sich der neue Kollege als unzuverlässig.
After several conversations, the new colleague turned out to be unreliable.
Nach mehreren Gesprächen stellte sich heraus, dass der neue Kollege sehr zuverlässig ist.
After several conversations, it turned out that the new colleague was very reliable.
