lance
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lance
A historical thrusting weapon with a long shaft and a metal tip, used mainly by riders in battle or at tournaments.
Im Mittelalter kämpften die Ritter mit Schild und Lanze.
In the Middle Ages, knights fought with shield and lance.
to speak up for
A fixed idiom meaning to stand up for someone or something, to defend or support someone.
Obwohl alle gegen den Vorschlag waren, brach die Abteilungsleiterin eine Lanze für die Idee ihrer Mitarbeiterin.
Although everyone was against the proposal, the department head spoke up for her employee's idea.
lance
A long, tube-shaped device used to spray liquids or gases under high pressure, for example on a pressure washer.
Mit der Lanze des Hochdruckreinigers säuberte er die Terrasse.
He cleaned the patio with the lance of the pressure washer.
You can recognize the meaning of 'Lanze' (lance) from the context. If the sentence is about knights or history, it refers to the weapon. In technical contexts (e.g. with 'Hochdruckreiniger' (pressure washer)), it is the spraying device. The fixed expression 'eine Lanze brechen' means to defend someone.
Der Ritter senkte seine Lanze.
The knight lowered his lance.
This meaning is used almost exclusively in historical contexts, when talking about the Middle Ages, knights, tournaments, or old battles.
Im Museum war eine echte Lanze aus dem 14. Jahrhundert ausgestellt.
A real lance from the 14th century was on display in the museum.
The idiom 'eine Lanze für jemanden/etwas brechen' (to speak up for someone/something) is a fixed unit. The verb is always 'brechen' (to break), and the person or thing one is supporting is in the accusative.
Er hat auf der Konferenz eine Lanze für unser Projekt gebrochen.
He spoke up for our project at the conference.
In the technical context, 'Lanze' (lance) is often combined with devices such as 'Hochdruckreiniger' (pressure washer) or 'Dampfstrahler' (steam cleaner). Typical verbs are 'reinigen' (to clean), 'säubern' (to clean), or 'abspritzen' (to hose/spray down).
Mit der Lanze des Dampfstrahlers lässt sich alter Schmutz leicht entfernen.
With the lance of the steam cleaner, old dirt can be removed easily.
skewer / spear
Spieß and Lanze refer to historical thrusting weapons with a long shaft and a metal point. Lanze is especially appropriate when the weapon is used by a rider in battle or at tournaments. Spieß is the more general term for such a long thrusting weapon, without this specific connection to riding.
Beim Turnier richtet der Reiter seine Lanze nach vorn.
At the tournament, the rider points his lance forward.
Im Museum liegt ein langer Spieß mit einer eisernen Spitze.
The museum has a long spear with an iron point on display.
