rasieren
to shave
To remove body hair, especially beard hair, directly at the surface of the skin using a sharp blade or an electric device.
EXAMPLE
Er rasiert sich jeden Morgen gründlich.
He shaves thoroughly every morning.
rasieren
to shave / crush / rip off
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Meanings
rasieren
to crush
Colloquial for clearly and overwhelmingly defeating an opponent in a competition, game, or conflict.
EXAMPLE
Unsere Mannschaft hat den Gegner im Finale komplett rasiert.
Our team completely crushed the opponent in the final.
rasieren
to rip off
Colloquial for cheating someone or putting them at a serious financial disadvantage.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du bei dem Geschäft nicht rasiert wirst.
Be careful that you don't get ripped off in that deal.
Usage tips
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear. If it is about personal grooming, the literal meaning is intended. In the context of a competition or game, it means 'besiegen' (to defeat). If it is about money or business, it often means 'betrügen' (to cheat).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss mich noch schnell rasieren, bevor wir gehen.
I still have to shave quickly before we go.
Reflexive use
In its main meaning, 'rasieren' (to shave) is very often used reflexively: 'sich rasieren' (to shave oneself). If a specific body part is named, it appears in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Er rasiert sich jeden Morgen vor dem Spiegel.
He shaves in front of the mirror every morning.
Register: youth slang
The meaning 'jemanden besiegen' (to defeat someone) is colloquial and belongs especially to youth slang. It is often used in the context of video games, sports, or competitions.
EXAMPLE
Im Online-Match hat sie ihren Gegner total rasiert.
In the online match, she totally crushed her opponent.
Register: colloquial
The meaning 'jemanden betrügen' (to cheat someone) is also colloquial. It is often used in the passive ('rasiert werden' — to get ripped off) to express that someone lost money or was taken advantage of.
EXAMPLE
Beim Autokauf wurde er komplett rasiert und hat viel zu viel bezahlt.
He got completely ripped off when buying the car and paid far too much.
Compare with
rasieren vs vernichten
to destroy / annihilate
Both verbs can express decisively and overwhelmingly defeating someone. Vernichten sounds very strong and dramatic. Rasieren has a casual, colloquial tone in this meaning and is especially suited to informal comments about games or other competitions.
rasieren
Nach dem 8:0 sagte ein Fan, die Heimmannschaft habe ihren Gegner rasiert.
After the 8–0 victory, a fan said that the home team had crushed its opponents.
vernichten
Laut Spielbericht vernichtete die Heimmannschaft ihren Gegner mit 8:0.
According to the match report, the home team annihilated its opponents 8–0.
In real life
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