strap / belt / oar
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strap / belt
A long, narrow strip made of leather or another sturdy material, used for fastening, holding, or as a drive component, for example a V-belt.
Der Riemen seiner Ledertasche ist nach vielen Jahren gerissen.
The strap of his leather bag tore after many years.
to pull yourself together
A colloquial expression meaning that someone should get a grip on themselves, discipline themselves, or make a special effort.
Du musst dich jetzt am Riemen reißen, um die Prüfung zu bestehen.
You need to pull yourself together now in order to pass the exam.
oar
A long oar with a flat blade at the end, used to move a boat by muscle power.
Die Ruderer tauchten ihre Riemen synchron ins Wasser.
The rowers dipped their oars into the water in sync.
The idiom 'sich am Riemen reißen' (to pull yourself together) is a fixed unit. It is reflexive, with 'sich' (oneself), and always uses the preposition 'an' with the dative. The expression is colloquial for 'sich zusammennehmen' (to pull oneself together).
Reiß dich am Riemen, die Präsentation beginnt in fünf Minuten!
Pull yourself together, the presentation starts in five minutes!
The three main meanings are clearly separated by context. A 'Riemen' can be a strap on clothing or bags, an oar on a boat, or part of the fixed expression for self-discipline.
Der Riemen an meinem neuen Gürtel ist aus echtem Leder.
The strap on my new belt is made of genuine leather.
In this meaning, 'Riemen' (strap/belt) is often combined with a material, e.g. 'Lederriemen' (leather strap), or a function, e.g. 'Antriebsriemen' (drive belt), 'Keilriemen' (V-belt). A typical verb is 'reißen' (to tear).
In der Werkstatt muss der Keilriemen des Motors ausgetauscht werden.
In the workshop, the engine's V-belt has to be replaced.
This meaning of 'Riemen' as a long oar is specific to the context of boats, especially rowing. Typical verbs are 'rudern' (to row) or 'ins Wasser tauchen' (to dip into the water).
Die Athleten bewegten die Riemen in perfekter Synchronität.
The athletes moved the oars in perfect synchrony.
belt
Gürtel and Riemen can both refer to a band worn around the waist to hold up a pair of trousers. Gürtel is the neutral term for a piece of clothing, while Riemen emphasizes the sturdy, functional material and its role in holding something up. For ordinary clothing, Gürtel is therefore usually the word used.
Der feste Riemen hält die schwere Arbeitshose an der Taille.
The sturdy strap keeps the heavy work trousers at my waist.
Der Gürtel hält meine Hose auch ohne Hosenträger an der Taille.
The belt keeps my pants at my waist even without suspenders.
