polieren
to polish
To make a surface smooth and shiny by rubbing it, often using a special product.
EXAMPLE
Er verbrachte den ganzen Nachmittag damit, sein altes Auto zu polieren.
He spent the whole afternoon polishing his old car.
polieren
to polish
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Meanings
polieren
to polish up
In a figurative sense: to improve or refine something, for example skills or one's own reputation.
EXAMPLE
Der Politiker versuchte mit der Rede, sein ramponiertes Image wieder aufzupolieren.
With the speech, the politician tried to polish up his battered image.
jemandem die Fresse polieren
to smash someone's face in
Colloquial and vulgar for: to beat someone up in the face.
EXAMPLE
Er wurde wütend und drohte, dem anderen die Fresse zu polieren.
He got angry and threatened to smash the other guy's face in.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning of 'polieren' (to polish) from the object: if you polish a physical thing like furniture or silver, it is meant literally. If you polish something abstract like an image, it should be understood figuratively.
EXAMPLE
Zuerst poliere ich die alten Schuhe, dann kümmere ich mich um mein schlechtes Image.
First I'll polish the old shoes, then I'll take care of my bad image.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'polieren' (to polish) is often used for surfaces that are supposed to shine. Typical phrases are: 'Schuhe polieren' (to polish shoes), 'das Auto polieren' (to polish the car), 'Silber polieren' (to polish silver), or 'Möbel polieren' (to polish furniture).
EXAMPLE
Jeden Samstag poliert er sein Besteck aus Silber.
Every Saturday he polishes his silver cutlery.
Typical collocations
In the figurative sense, 'polieren' (to polish) is used for improving something abstract. Common expressions are 'sein Image polieren' (to polish one's image), 'seinen Ruf polieren' (to polish one's reputation), or 'seine Fähigkeiten polieren' (to polish one's skills).
EXAMPLE
Mit ehrenamtlicher Arbeit versucht der Konzern, seinen Ruf zu polieren.
Through volunteer work, the corporation is trying to polish its reputation.
Register and style
The expression 'jemandem die Fresse polieren' (to smash someone's face in) is very vulgar colloquial speech. It expresses an aggressive threat and should only be used or interpreted with caution.
EXAMPLE
Im Streit drohte er: „Pass auf, sonst poliere ich dir die Fresse!“
During the argument he threatened: 'Watch it, or I'll smash your face in!'
Dative construction
In the idiom 'jemandem die Fresse polieren' (to smash someone's face in), the person who is to be hit is always in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Er hat ihm gedroht, ihm die Fresse zu polieren.
He threatened him that he would smash his face in.
Compare with
polieren vs putzen
to clean
With shoes or metal, putzen can refer both to cleaning and to making something shiny afterward. Polieren, by contrast, specifically emphasizes smoothing the surface and making it shine. If the main goal is to remove dirt, putzen is the better choice; if the main goal is shine, polieren is more appropriate.
polieren
Nach der Reinigung poliert Mia ihre Lederschuhe, bis sie glänzen.
After cleaning them, Mia polishes her leather shoes until they shine.
putzen
Vor dem Fest putzt Mia ihre schmutzigen Lederschuhe gründlich.
Before the party, Mia thoroughly cleans her dirty leather shoes.
In real life
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