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.
individual case
'der Einzelfall' and 'der Extremfall' both describe a case that does not simply count as a general rule. The difference is in the focus: an Einzelfall is an individual, concrete situation that has to be assessed on its own. It does not have to be especially difficult or rare. An Extremfall, on the other hand, is a particularly unusual or very difficult case, something at the edge of what is normal. Learners may confuse the words because both do not refer to the normal average. A practical tip: for an individual assessment, you are more likely to say 'im Einzelfall' (on a case-by-case basis). For a very rare or especially severe situation, you say 'im Extremfall' (in an extreme case) or 'der Extremfall' (the extreme case).
Im Extremfall müssen die Gäste wegen des Sturms im Hotel bleiben.
In an extreme case, the guests have to stay in the hotel because of the storm.
Ob die Schule eine Ausnahme macht, entscheidet sie im Einzelfall.
The school decides on a case-by-case basis whether to make an exception.