to snatch away / to rescue
Loading your saved state.
to snatch away
To tear something out of someone's hand or possession with a quick, forceful movement.
Der Dieb versuchte, der Frau im Vorbeifahren die Handtasche zu entreißen.
The thief tried to snatch the woman's handbag away as he rode past.
'Entreißen' (to snatch away / to rescue) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' often means 'away' or 'remove' and remains firmly attached to the verb 'reißen' (to tear) in all sentence forms.
Er entriss ihr den Brief, bevor sie ihn lesen konnte.
He snatched the letter away from her before she could read it.
This verb requires a fixed sentence structure: the person or thing from whom something is taken away is in the dative. The object that is taken away is in the accusative.
Der Polizist entriss dem Täter (Dativ) die Waffe (Akkusativ).
The police officer snatched the weapon (accusative) away from the perpetrator (dative).
In the literal meaning, 'entreißen' (to snatch away) is often combined with valuable items that one carries with oneself. Typical phrases are 'die Handtasche entreißen' (to snatch away the handbag), 'das Handy entreißen' (to snatch away the phone), or 'das Portemonnaie entreißen' (to snatch away the wallet).
Auf dem Bahnhof wurde einem Touristen der Koffer entrissen.
At the train station, a tourist had his suitcase snatched away.
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'retten' (to rescue) from the context. Here, someone is torn away from an abstract danger or fate. Typical formulations are 'jemanden dem Tod entreißen' (to rescue someone from death), 'den Flammen entreißen' (to rescue from the flames), or 'einer Gefahr entreißen' (to rescue from a danger).
Die Ärzte konnten den Patienten dem Tod entreißen.
The doctors were able to rescue the patient from death.
to save / rescue
'retten' and 'entreißen' can both mean that someone or something is freed from great danger. 'retten' is the normal, general word and fits many everyday situations. 'entreißen' sounds stronger and more dramatic. It emphasizes that someone or something is taken away from a very great danger, a terrible fate, or a negative state. In everyday language, people usually say 'retten'; 'entreißen' is more appropriate in reports, literature, or very serious situations.
Die schnellen Helfer haben den Verletzten dem Tod entrissen.
The quick helpers snatched the injured man from death.
Sie rettet den Hund, weil er allein auf der Straße läuft.
She rescues the dog because it is running alone in the street.