no man's land
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no man's land
An area between the front lines of two hostile powers that is controlled by neither side.
Im Ersten Weltkrieg war das Niemandsland zwischen den Schützengräben ein extrem gefährlicher Ort.
In the First World War, the no man's land between the trenches was an extremely dangerous place.
no man's land
In a figurative sense, an unclearly defined area or state that lies between two clear categories, responsibilities, or qualities.
Mit seiner neuen Geschäftsidee bewegt er sich in einem rechtlichen Niemandsland.
With his new business idea, he is operating in a legal no man's land.
no man's land
An abandoned, uninhabited, or neglected area that seems to belong to no one.
Die alte Industriebrache ist zu einem trostlosen Niemandsland verkommen.
The old industrial wasteland has turned into a bleak no man's land.
The word is made up of 'Niemand' (nobody; in the genitive: 'Niemands') and 'Land' (land). So it literally means 'the land of no one'. This basic idea helps you understand all of its meanings.
Die alte Fabrikruine liegt auf einem vergessenen Stück Niemandsland.
The old factory ruin is located on a forgotten piece of no man's land.
'Niemandsland' (no man's land) is very often used figuratively for unclear states or areas. For example, people speak of a 'rechtliches Niemandsland' (legal no man's land; an unclear legal situation) or an 'emotionales Niemandsland' (emotional no man's land).
Start-ups agieren oft in einem rechtlichen Niemandsland, bis neue Gesetze geschaffen werden.
Start-ups often operate in a legal no man's land until new laws are created.
You can recognize the literal, military meaning from the context of war and history, e.g. 'Front' (front line) or 'Schützengraben' (trench). The figurative meanings refer either to abstract areas, e.g. 'rechtlich' (legal) or 'politisch' (political), or to concrete but abandoned places, e.g. 'Industriebrache' (industrial wasteland).
Der Soldat musste nachts das Niemandsland durchqueren.
The soldier had to cross no man's land at night.
gray area
Niemandsland and Grauzone both refer to unclearly defined areas. Niemandsland emphasizes that something cannot be clearly assigned to any category or area of responsibility. Grauzone is used especially when rules are missing or when it is unclear what is legally or morally allowed.
Das neue Angebot liegt im Niemandsland zwischen den Zuständigkeiten zweier Behörden.
The new service falls into no man's land between the areas of responsibility of two government agencies.
Das neue Angebot liegt in einer rechtlichen Grauzone, weil klare Regeln dafür fehlen.
The new service lies in a legal gray area because there are no clear rules governing it.
