extreme case
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extreme case
A particularly unusual, rare, or difficult case that represents the outer limit of what is possible or usual.
Im Extremfall kann diese Krankheit tödlich enden, aber das kommt nur sehr selten vor.
In an extreme case, this disease can be fatal, but that happens only very rarely.
The word is a clear compound of the adjective 'extrem' (extreme) and the noun 'der Fall' (case). So it literally describes a case that is extreme.
Ein Stromausfall im ganzen Land wäre ein echter Extremfall.
A power outage across the whole country would be a real extreme case.
The fixed expression 'im Extremfall' (in an extreme case) is used very frequently. It usually appears at the beginning of the sentence and introduces the description of the worst possible or rarest consequence.
Im Extremfall muss die Operation wiederholt werden.
In an extreme case, the operation has to be repeated.
When the expression 'Im Extremfall' (in an extreme case) is in position 1 in the sentence, the conjugated verb follows directly after it (inversion).
Im Extremfall schließt das Geschäft für immer.
In an extreme case, the business closes forever.
exceptional case
„Ausnahmefall“ and „Extremfall“ both describe something that deviates from what is normal. „Ausnahmefall“ primarily emphasizes a rare deviation from a rule, while „Extremfall“ additionally refers to the outermost limit of what is possible or usual. Use „Ausnahmefall“ for a special exception and „Extremfall“ for the strongest conceivable form.
Im Extremfall kann ein kleiner Fehler den gesamten Betrieb gefährden.
In an extreme case, a small mistake can endanger the entire operation.
Dass die Schule bei starkem Schneefall geschlossen wird, bleibt ein Ausnahmefall.
The school being closed because of heavy snowfall remains an exceptional case.
