guardrail
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guardrail
A protective metal barrier along the edges of roads, intended to prevent vehicles from leaving the roadway.
Das Auto prallte gegen die Leitplanke, wurde aber auf der Straße gehalten.
The car crashed into the guardrail but was kept on the road.
guideline / boundary
In a figurative sense, a guideline or boundary that provides orientation and is intended to protect against undesirable developments.
Die ethischen Grundsätze des Unternehmens dienen als Leitplanken für alle Entscheidungen.
The company's ethical principles serve as guardrails for all decisions.
The word consists of 'leiten' (to guide, to steer) and 'Planke' (a long, flat board). A Leitplanke (guardrail) is therefore literally a 'guiding plank' that keeps something on the right path.
Ohne die Leitplanke wäre das Auto von der Brücke gestürzt.
Without the guardrail, the car would have plunged off the bridge.
You can recognize the literal meaning from the context of traffic, roads, and vehicles. You can recognize the figurative meaning in abstract topics such as ethics, rules, strategies, or projects.
Der LKW durchbrach die Leitplanke auf der Autobahn.
The truck broke through the guardrail on the highway.
In the literal sense, 'Leitplanke' (guardrail) is often combined with verbs that describe a collision. Typical phrases are 'gegen die Leitplanke prallen' (to crash into the guardrail), 'die Leitplanke streifen' (to scrape the guardrail), or 'in die Leitplanke fahren' (to drive into the guardrail).
Bei dem Glatteis ist ein Fahrer in die Leitplanke gerutscht.
Because of the black ice, a driver slid into the guardrail.
In the figurative meaning, guardrails provide orientation. Common verbs here are 'als Leitplanke dienen' (to serve as a guardrail), 'Leitplanken setzen' (to set guardrails), or 'sich an Leitplanken orientieren' (to orient oneself by guardrails).
Der Projektplan dient uns als Leitplanke für die nächsten Monate.
The project plan serves as a guardrail for us over the next few months.
guideline
In a figurative sense, both words can provide guidance for a project or undertaking. „Die Richtlinie“ sets out specific rules or instructions, while „die Leitplanke“ primarily marks an acceptable framework and is intended to protect against undesirable developments. Use „Richtlinie“ for requirements and „Leitplanke“ for general boundaries.
Für das Projekt setzte die Leitung klare Leitplanken, damit das Team den finanziellen Rahmen einhielt.
For the project, management set clear guardrails so that the team stayed within the financial limits.
Die Richtlinie legt fest, welche Schritte das Team bei dem Projekt einhalten muss.
The guideline specifies which steps the team must follow for the project.
