violin
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violin
A string instrument with four strings that is played with a bow and has a high pitch. It is also known as the violin.
Sie spielt seit ihrer Kindheit Geige im Orchester.
She has played violin in the orchestra since childhood.
to play first fiddle
An idiomatic expression meaning to have the leading or most important role in a group or situation.
In dieser Abteilung spielt er eindeutig die erste Geige.
In this department, he clearly plays first fiddle.
The noun 'die Geige' (the violin) belongs to a word family. The person who plays the instrument is 'der Geiger' (the male violinist) or 'die Geigerin' (the female violinist), and the activity itself can be referred to as 'geigen' (to play the violin).
Der Geiger stimmte sein Instrument vor dem Konzert.
The violinist tuned his instrument before the concert.
When referring to the instrument, 'Geige' (violin) is often combined with the verbs 'spielen' (to play), 'üben' (to practice), or 'stimmen' (to tune).
Er übt jeden Tag zwei Stunden Geige.
He practices violin for two hours every day.
The idiom 'die erste Geige spielen' (to play first fiddle) is a fixed expression. It is used to express that someone is the most important or most dominant person in a group.
In diesem Projekt will jeder die erste Geige spielen.
In this project, everyone wants to play first fiddle.
The word 'erste' (first) is the crucial clue to the idiomatic meaning. When you hear or read 'die erste Geige spielen' (to play first fiddle), it almost always refers to the figurative meaning of being in the leading position.
Der Chef spielt in allen wichtigen Entscheidungen die erste Geige.
The boss plays first fiddle in all important decisions.
violin
Geige and Violine refer to the same string instrument. Geige is the more common and less formal word in everyday language, while Violine is used more often in formal or technical contexts. In an ordinary conversation about the instrument, Geige is usually the better choice, but both words are grammatically correct.
Meine Schwester spielt seit drei Jahren Geige im Schulorchester.
My sister has been playing the violin in the school orchestra for three years.
Im Programmheft wird die Solistin an der Violine besonders vorgestellt.
The program notes give special mention to the violin soloist.
