lever
Loading your saved state.
lever
A rod or tool with which, by applying force at one point, you can create greater force at another point in order to lift or move something heavy.
Mit einem langen Hebel konnte er den Felsbrocken aus dem Weg rollen.
With a long lever, he was able to roll the boulder out of the way.
The noun 'der Hebel' (the lever) is closely related to the verb 'heben' (to lift). A 'Hebel' (lever) is originally a tool that helps lift heavy things more easily.
Er konnte die schwere Kiste nicht allein heben.
He couldn't lift the heavy crate by himself.
Pay attention to the context to understand the meaning. If it is about a tool or a machine, the literal meaning is intended. In discussions about politics or economics, the figurative meaning 'Einflussmittel' (means of influence) is often intended.
Er benutzte einen Hebel, um die Tür aufzubrechen.
He used a lever to break open the door.
When 'Hebel' (lever) is a control element on a device, it is often combined with the verbs 'ziehen' (to pull), 'drücken' (to press), or 'umlegen' (to flip/switch).
Um die Maschine zu starten, müssen Sie den roten Hebel nach unten drücken.
To start the machine, you must press the red lever down.
In a figurative sense, people often say that someone has 'den längeren Hebel' (the longer lever). This means that they have more power or influence in a situation.
In den Verhandlungen saß die Firma am längeren Hebel.
In the negotiations, the company held the stronger position.
The idiom 'alle Hebel in Bewegung setzen' (to pull out all the stops) is a fixed expression. It means that you do everything possible to achieve a goal.
Die Organisatoren setzten alle Hebel in Bewegung, um das Konzert doch noch stattfinden zu lassen.
The organizers pulled out all the stops to make sure the concert could still take place.
In a financial context, 'der Hebel' (leverage) is a technical term. It describes the so-called leverage effect, in which a small amount of capital is used to achieve a large effect.
Beim Handel mit Derivaten kann ein hoher Hebel zu schnellen Gewinnen führen.
When trading derivatives, high leverage can lead to quick gains.
remedy / means
'das Mittel' and 'der Hebel' can both refer to a way of achieving a goal. 'Mittel' is the general word for a method or action. 'Hebel' is used figuratively more when you exert influence or start at an important point so that something changes. It often suggests impact, pressure, or a particularly effective point. You could say: every figurative example of 'Hebel' is a kind of Mittel, but not every Mittel is a Hebel.
Günstigere Preise sind für die Firma ein wichtiger Hebel, um neue Kunden zu gewinnen.
Lower prices are an important lever for the company to attract new customers.
Mehr Übung ist ein gutes Mittel, um beim Sprechen sicherer zu werden.
More practice is a good means of becoming more confident when speaking.