to free up / take time off / frank
freimachen – machte frei – hat freigemacht
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to free up
To clear or remove something so that space becomes available again or something can be used again.
Bitte machen Sie den Flur frei, damit die Sanitäter durchkommen.
Please clear the hallway so that the paramedics can get through.
to take time off
Colloquial: to take time off work for a certain period.
Nächste Woche mache ich zwei Tage frei, weil meine Eltern zu Besuch kommen.
Next week, I’m taking two days off because my parents are coming to visit.
to frank a letter
To put the required stamp on a mailing or pay the postage in another way.
Vergessen Sie bitte nicht, den Brief freizumachen.
Please don’t forget to frank the letter.
to free oneself from
To free oneself internally from a burden, an idea, or a dependency.
Nach der Trennung musste sie sich erst von ihren Schuldgefühlen freimachen.
After the breakup, she first had to free herself from her feelings of guilt.
to undress
To take off one's clothes, especially clothing covering the upper body or certain parts of the body.
Der Arzt bat ihn, sich für die Untersuchung freizumachen.
The doctor asked him to undress for the examination.
| ich | mache frei |
|---|---|
| du | machst frei |
| er/sie/es | macht frei |
| wir | machen frei |
| ihr | macht frei |
| sie | machen frei |
| ich | machte frei |
|---|---|
| du | machtest frei |
| er/sie/es | machte frei |
| wir | machten frei |
| ihr | machtet frei |
| sie | machten frei |
| ich | habe freigemacht |
|---|---|
| du | hast freigemacht |
| er/sie/es | hat freigemacht |
| wir | haben freigemacht |
| ihr | habt freigemacht |
| sie | haben freigemacht |
| du | mach frei! mache frei! |
|---|---|
| ihr | macht frei! |
| Sie | machen Sie frei! |
| ich | hatte freigemacht |
|---|---|
| du | hattest freigemacht |
| er/sie/es | hatte freigemacht |
| wir | hatten freigemacht |
| ihr | hattet freigemacht |
| sie | hatten freigemacht |
| ich | werde freimachen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst freimachen |
| er/sie/es | wird freimachen |
| wir | werden freimachen |
| ihr | werdet freimachen |
| sie | werden freimachen |
| ich | mache frei |
|---|---|
| du | machest frei |
| er/sie/es | mache frei |
| wir | machen frei |
| ihr | machet frei |
| sie | machen frei |
Used for reported speech.
| ich | machte frei |
|---|---|
| du | machtest frei |
| er/sie/es | machte frei |
| wir | machten frei |
| ihr | machtet frei |
| sie | machten frei |
Used for wishes and “would”.
| infinitive | freimachen |
|---|---|
| with zu | freizumachen |
| present participle | freimachend |
| past participle | freigemacht |
'Freimachen' (to free up) is made up of 'frei' (free) and 'machen' (to make). You make something or someone 'frei' (free) so that an action, movement, or another use becomes possible. Depending on the context, this can refer to an object, a person, a mailing, or one's own inner attitude.
Die Mitarbeiter machten den Eingang für die Gäste frei.
The staff cleared the entrance for the guests.
'Freimachen' (to free up) is a separable verb. In a main clause, 'frei' comes at the end of the sentence; in a subordinate clause, the verb remains together; and with the infinitive 'zu', 'zu' comes between 'frei' and 'machen'.
Die Helfer machten den Eingang schnell frei.
The helpers quickly cleared the entrance.
Sie wartete, bis die Helfer den Eingang freimachten.
She waited until the helpers had cleared the entrance.
Es ist wichtig, den Notausgang freizumachen.
It is important to clear the emergency exit.
In the meaning 'Platz schaffen' (to make space), 'freimachen' (to free up) is often used with an accusative object such as 'den Weg' (the way), 'den Platz' (the space), or 'den Eingang' (the entrance). These objects usually refer to an area that can then be used or passed through again.
Die Besucher machten den Weg für den Kinderwagen frei.
The visitors cleared the way for the stroller.
In this meaning, 'freimachen' (to take time off) is generally used without an accusative object. The duration is often given with a time expression in the accusative, such as 'einen Tag' (one day) or 'eine Woche' (one week).
Für die Hochzeit seiner Schwester hat er eine Woche freigemacht.
He took a week off for his sister's wedding.
In the context of mailing, 'freimachen' (to frank) is especially often used with 'Brief' (letter), 'Briefumschlag' (envelope), or 'Sendung' (mailing). It means that the postage has been paid, usually with a stamp or a franking machine.
Bitte machen Sie den Umschlag ausreichend frei, bevor Sie ihn einwerfen.
Please put enough postage on the envelope before mailing it.
With 'sich freimachen von' (to free oneself from), the burden or dependency comes after 'von' (from) in the dative. The verb is used reflexively here and often describes an internal process of letting go.
Er musste sich von alten Erwartungen freimachen.
He had to free himself from old expectations.
When referring to undressing, 'sich freimachen' (to undress) is often used in medical instructions. 'Obenrum' (from the waist up) is often used to indicate that only the upper body should be uncovered.
Machen Sie sich bitte obenrum frei, damit ich Sie abhören kann.
Please undress from the waist up so I can listen to your chest.
