kippen
to tip / topple
To bring something into a slanted position, or for it to be brought into one, so that it falls over or its contents are poured out.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du das Glas nicht kippst!
Be careful not to tip the glass!
kippen
to tip / to topple
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Meanings
kippen
to turn
Describes a sudden, usually negative change in a situation, mood, or opinion.
EXAMPLE
Die gute Stimmung auf der Party kippte, als der Streit begann.
The good mood at the party turned when the argument began.
kippen
to overturn
To declare a law, plan, or decision invalid or stop it.
EXAMPLE
Das Gericht hat den umstrittenen Bebauungsplan gekippt.
The court overturned the controversial development plan.
kippen
to knock back
Colloquial for drinking quickly, especially alcoholic drinks.
EXAMPLE
Er hat an dem Abend drei Bier hintereinander gekippt.
He knocked back three beers in a row that evening.
kippen
to collapse ecologically
Describes the state of a body of water whose ecological balance collapses, often because of a lack of oxygen, leading to the death of living organisms.
EXAMPLE
Im Sommer ist der kleine Teich im Park gekippt.
In the summer, the small pond in the park collapsed ecologically.
Usage tips
Auxiliary verb: haben or sein?
The perfect tense of 'kippen' (to tip/topple) is formed with 'haben' when it describes an active action. It is formed with 'sein' when it expresses an uncontrolled change of state, for example with a mood or a body of water.
EXAMPLE
Er hat das Wasser aus dem Eimer gekippt.
He tipped the water out of the bucket.
Transitive vs. intransitive
'Kippen' (to tip/topple) can be used with or without an accusative object. With an object, it means that someone actively knocks something over. Without an object, it means that something loses its balance and falls over by itself.
EXAMPLE
Der Wind hat meinen Stuhl gekippt.
The wind tipped over my chair.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative sense, 'kippen' (to turn) describes how a situation, an opinion, or the mood suddenly and unexpectedly becomes negative. It is often used for abstract things.
EXAMPLE
Zuerst waren alle für den Plan, doch dann kippte die Meinung der Mehrheit.
At first everyone was in favor of the plan, but then the majority opinion turned.
Political context
In news reports or political discussions, 'kippen' (to overturn) often means that a court or government stops a law, plan, or regulation or declares it invalid.
EXAMPLE
Das oberste Gericht hat das umstrittene Gesetz gestern gekippt.
The supreme court overturned the controversial law yesterday.
Colloquial usage
In colloquial language, 'kippen' (to knock back) means to drink a beverage, usually alcohol, quickly. This usage is very informal and has a slightly negative connotation.
EXAMPLE
Er hat auf der Party ein Bier nach dem anderen gekippt.
At the party, he knocked back one beer after another.
Compare with
kippen vs trinken
to drink
„Trinken“ neutrally refers to consuming an alcoholic drink and says nothing about the speed. In this usage, „Kippen“ is colloquial and typically means drinking an alcoholic beverage hastily. Use „trinken“ in general and „kippen“ when the haste is meant to be emphasized.
kippen
Er kippte sein Bier schnell hinunter, weil der Bus schon wartete.
He quickly knocked back his beer because the bus was already waiting.
trinken
Er trank sein Bier nach der Arbeit ganz in Ruhe.
He took his time drinking his beer after work.
In real life
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