to milk
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to milk
To obtain milk from the udder of an animal, especially a cow, goat, or sheep, by pressing and pulling.
Der Bauer muss jeden Morgen und Abend die Kühe im Stall melken.
The farmer has to milk the cows in the barn every morning and evening.
to milk
Colloquial and derogatory: to financially exploit a person or situation in order to get as much money or benefit from it as possible.
Diese App melkt ihre Nutzer mit ständigen In-Game-Käufen für kleinste Vorteile.
This app milks its users with constant in-game purchases for the smallest advantages.
The meaning of 'melken' (to milk) is usually clear. If it is about animals like cows or goats, the literal meaning is intended. If it is about people, money, or a situation, the figurative, negative meaning is intended.
Auf dem Bauernhof lernen die Kinder, wie man eine Ziege melkt.
On the farm, the children learn how to milk a goat.
In its literal meaning, 'melken' (to milk) is almost always used in connection with milk-producing animals. Typical objects are 'die Kühe' (the cows), 'die Ziegen' (the goats), or 'die Schafe' (the sheep).
Früher wurden die Kühe von Hand gemolken.
In the past, the cows were milked by hand.
The figurative meaning of 'melken' (to milk) is colloquial and has a strongly negative connotation. It expresses that someone is being unfairly exploited.
Die Firma melkt ihre Kunden mit versteckten Gebühren.
The company milks its customers with hidden fees.
In the colloquial meaning of exploiting, the person or thing being exploited is always in the accusative. You 'melkt jemanden' (milk someone) or 'etwas' (something).
Manche Influencer melken ihre Follower für Spenden.
Some influencers milk their followers for donations.
to gut / exclude / rip off
Ausnehmen and melken are both colloquial and negative here. Ausnehmen emphasizes that an unfairly large amount of money is taken from someone, often in a single transaction. Melken is more about continually taking advantage of a person or situation in order to get as much money or benefit from it as possible.
Der Anbieter melkt den Kunden über viele Monate mit immer neuen Gebühren.
The provider milks the customer for months with new fees every time.
Der Anbieter nimmt den Kunden mit einer einzigen stark überhöhten Rechnung aus.
The provider rips off the customer with a single hugely inflated bill.
