01
lackieren
to lacquer
To coat a surface with a layer of lacquer, paint, or a similar protective substance.
example
Er will die alten Holzstühle neu lackieren.
He wants to lacquer the old wooden chairs again.
lackieren
to lacquer / to trick / to get drunk
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'lackieren' (to lacquer) is derived directly from the noun 'der Lack' (lacquer/varnish). It describes the action of coating something with lacquer.
EXAMPLE
Für diese Tür brauchen wir einen wetterfesten Lack.
We need a weather-resistant lacquer for this door.
Register: literal vs. colloquial
Only the meaning 'eine Oberfläche mit Lack überziehen' (to coat a surface with lacquer) is neutral and literal. The meanings 'jemanden täuschen' (to deceive someone) and 'Alkohol trinken' (to drink alcohol) are purely colloquial and should be avoided in formal situations.
EXAMPLE
Die Werkstatt muss den Kratzer im Auto neu lackieren.
The repair shop has to repaint the scratch on the car.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'lackieren' (to lacquer) is often used for specific objects. Typical phrases are: 'ein Auto lackieren' (to paint a car), 'Möbel lackieren' (to lacquer furniture), 'die Fingernägel lackieren' (to paint one's fingernails), or 'Holz lackieren' (to lacquer wood).
EXAMPLE
Sie lässt sich vor der Party die Fingernägel rot lackieren.
She is having her fingernails painted red before the party.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression for 'sich betrinken' (to get drunk) has a fixed structure: 'sich (Dativ) einen lackieren'. The word 'einen' is a fixed part of the idiom.
EXAMPLE
Nach der harten Woche will er sich am Freitagabend mit Freunden einen lackieren.
After the hard week, he wants to get drunk with friends on Friday evening.
Compare with
lackieren vs trinken
to drink
'trinken' and 'sich einen lackieren' can both have to do with alcohol. 'trinken' is neutral and can simply mean that someone consumes alcohol. Depending on the context, it can also mean that someone drinks alcohol regularly or too much. 'sich einen lackieren', on the other hand, is very casual and colloquial. It means that someone drinks alcohol, often with the idea of getting drunk. In normal or polite situations, 'trinken' is much more appropriate; 'sich einen lackieren' is more suitable among friends or in informal language.
lackieren
Nach dem Spiel haben wir uns mit den Freunden einen lackiert.
After the game, we got drunk with our friends.
trinken
In der Pause trinkt niemand Alkohol, weil alle noch arbeiten müssen.
During the break, no one drinks alcohol because everyone still has to work.
In real life
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