fliehen
to flee
To move quickly away from a place or person in order to escape danger, a threat, or coercion.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Krieges mussten viele Menschen aus ihrer Heimat fliehen.
Because of the war, many people had to flee their homeland.
fliehen
to flee
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Meanings
fliehen
to escape
To avoid or try to escape an unpleasant situation, a feeling, or reality.
EXAMPLE
Er flieht in die Arbeit, um nicht über seine Probleme nachdenken zu müssen.
He escapes into work so he doesn't have to think about his problems.
fliehen
to fly by
(elevated, literary) For time: to pass quickly.
EXAMPLE
Im Urlaub schienen die Stunden nur so dahin zu fliehen.
On vacation, the hours seemed to simply fly by.
Usage tips
Auxiliary verb 'sein'
Since 'fliehen' (to flee) describes movement away from a place, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). A common mistake is using 'haben' (to have).
EXAMPLE
Die Familie ist vor dem Krieg in ein anderes Land geflohen.
The family fled to another country because of the war.
Important prepositions
'Fliehen' (to flee) is often used with two prepositions: 'fliehen aus' + dative describes the place one leaves, and 'fliehen vor' + dative describes the danger one is escaping from.
EXAMPLE
Er ist aus dem Gefängnis geflohen.
He escaped from prison.
Word family
The verb 'fliehen' (to flee) is the basis for the nouns 'die Flucht' (the act of fleeing/escape) and 'der Flüchtling' or 'die Flüchtende' (a person who is fleeing).
EXAMPLE
Die Flucht über die Grenze war sehr gefährlich.
The escape across the border was very dangerous.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, you can also 'in' etwas fliehen (flee into something), with the accusative. This expresses that you withdraw into an activity or state in order to escape reality.
EXAMPLE
Sie flieht oft in ihre Fantasiewelt, wenn sie traurig ist.
She often escapes into her fantasy world when she is sad.
Literary style
When 'fliehen' (to flee/fly by) is used in relation to time, it is an elevated, poetic expression. In normal usage, you would say that time 'vergeht' (passes) or 'rennt' (runs/flies).
EXAMPLE
Die Zeit schien nur so zu fliehen, während wir im Urlaub waren.
Time seemed to simply fly by while we were on vacation.
Compare with
vergehenabsetzenentkommenflüchtenausweichenausbrechenentfliehentürmenabhauenweglaufenverfliegenentweichen
fliehen vs vergehen
to pass / fade
Fliehen and vergehen can both express that time passes quickly. Vergehen is the neutral and usual choice, whereas fliehen sounds elevated and literary in this sense. Use vergehen in everyday situations and fliehen mainly in poetic or narrative texts.
fliehen
Im Gedicht heißt es, dass die Stunden lautlos fliehen.
The poem says that the hours fly by silently.
vergehen
Während wir reden, vergehen die Stunden sehr schnell.
While we talk, the hours pass very quickly.
In real life
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