runterschlucken
to swallow down
To let something pass through the mouth into the stomach without spitting it out; to swallow down.
EXAMPLE
Er schluckte die Tablette mit etwas Wasser runter.
He swallowed the tablet down with some water.
runterschlucken
to swallow
runterschlucken – schluckte runter – hat runtergeschluckt
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Meanings
runterschlucken
to suppress
To suppress a feeling, especially tears, anger, or disappointment, and not show it.
EXAMPLE
Sie musste ihre Tränen runterschlucken und weiterarbeiten.
She had to suppress her tears and carry on working.
runterschlucken
to swallow
To reluctantly put up with an unpleasant remark, slight, or criticism without standing up for yourself.
EXAMPLE
Die ungerechte Kritik schluckte er zunächst einfach runter.
At first, he simply swallowed the unfair criticism.
Forms
Present
| ich | schlucke runter |
|---|---|
| du | schluckst runter |
| er/sie/es | schluckt runter |
| wir | schlucken runter |
| ihr | schluckt runter |
| sie | schlucken runter |
Simple past
| ich | schluckte runter |
|---|---|
| du | schlucktest runter |
| er/sie/es | schluckte runter |
| wir | schluckten runter |
| ihr | schlucktet runter |
| sie | schluckten runter |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe runtergeschluckt |
|---|---|
| du | hast runtergeschluckt |
| er/sie/es | hat runtergeschluckt |
| wir | haben runtergeschluckt |
| ihr | habt runtergeschluckt |
| sie | haben runtergeschluckt |
Commands
| du | schlucke runter! |
|---|---|
| ihr | schluckt runter! |
| Sie | schlucken Sie runter! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte runtergeschluckt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest runtergeschluckt |
| er/sie/es | hatte runtergeschluckt |
| wir | hatten runtergeschluckt |
| ihr | hattet runtergeschluckt |
| sie | hatten runtergeschluckt |
Future
| ich | werde runterschlucken |
|---|---|
| du | wirst runterschlucken |
| er/sie/es | wird runterschlucken |
| wir | werden runterschlucken |
| ihr | werdet runterschlucken |
| sie | werden runterschlucken |
Subjunctive I
| ich | schlucke runter |
|---|---|
| du | schluckest runter |
| er/sie/es | schlucke runter |
| wir | schlucken runter |
| ihr | schlucket runter |
| sie | schlucken runter |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | schluckte runter |
|---|---|
| du | schlucktest runter |
| er/sie/es | schluckte runter |
| wir | schluckten runter |
| ihr | schlucktet runter |
| sie | schluckten runter |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | runterschlucken |
|---|---|
| with zu | runterzuschlucken |
| present participle | runterschluckend |
| past participle | runtergeschluckt |
Usage tips
Separable verb
„Runterschlucken“ (to swallow down) consists of „runter“ (down) and „schlucken“ (to swallow) and is separable. In a main clause, „runter“ appears at the end of the sentence; in a subordinate clause and in the infinitive with „zu“, the verb remains together, or „zu“ is placed between the prefix and the stem.
EXAMPLE
Er schluckte die Kapsel ohne Wasser runter.
He swallowed the capsule down without water.
Sie trank viel Wasser, weil sie die Tablette nur schwer runterschluckte.
She drank a lot of water because she had difficulty swallowing the tablet down.
Vor der Untersuchung musste er lernen, große Tabletten runterzuschlucken.
Before the examination, he had to learn to swallow down large tablets.
Everyday language
„Runterschlucken“ (to swallow down) is mainly used in spoken and informal everyday language. The form is especially suitable for direct, personal descriptions.
EXAMPLE
Ich kann diese großen Tabletten einfach nicht runterschlucken.
I simply can't swallow down these large tablets.
Typical collocations
In its physical meaning, „runterschlucken“ (to swallow down) is often used with something that passes through the mouth into the stomach. Typical collocations are „eine Tablette runterschlucken“ (to swallow down a tablet), „einen Bissen runterschlucken“ (to swallow down a bite), or „einen Schluck Wasser runterschlucken“ (to swallow down a sip of water).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Essen schluckte er den letzten Bissen hastig runter.
After the meal, he hurriedly swallowed down the last bite.
Suppressing feelings
With feelings, tears, anger, rage, and disappointment are particularly typical objects of „runterschlucken“ (to suppress). The context shows that the feeling is not openly shown or expressed.
EXAMPLE
Sie schluckte ihre Enttäuschung runter und gratulierte dem Gewinner.
She suppressed her disappointment and congratulated the winner.
Putting up with criticism
With an unpleasant statement, „Kritik“ (criticism), „eine Bemerkung“ (a remark), or „eine Kränkung“ (an insult) often appears as the object. The context frequently involves a situation in which someone deliberately does not respond or stand up for themselves.
EXAMPLE
Um keinen Streit anzufangen, schluckte der Mitarbeiter die spitze Bemerkung seines Chefs runter.
To avoid starting an argument, the employee swallowed his boss's pointed remark.
In real life
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