sägen
to saw
To cut through or work on something, usually wood, metal, or plastic, with a saw.
EXAMPLE
Der Tischler sägte das Brett exakt auf die richtige Länge.
The carpenter sawed the board to exactly the right length.
sägen
to saw / snore
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
sägen
to snore
Colloquial for snoring very loudly and noisily while sleeping.
EXAMPLE
Ich konnte kaum schlafen, weil mein Zimmernachbar die ganze Nacht gesägt hat.
I could hardly sleep because my roommate was snoring all night.
an jemandes Stuhl sägen
to undermine someone
A fixed expression meaning to work secretly and schemingly to push someone out of their position or office.
EXAMPLE
Man merkt deutlich, dass die ehrgeizige Kollegin am Stuhl ihres Chefs sägt.
You can clearly tell that the ambitious colleague is undermining her boss's position.
Usage tips
Typical collocations
In its main meaning, 'sägen' (to saw) is often combined with materials that can be cut. Common objects are 'Holz' (wood), 'ein Brett' (a board), 'ein Ast' (a branch), or 'Metall' (metal).
EXAMPLE
Er hat den ganzen Nachmittag Holz für den Winter gesägt.
He sawed wood for the winter all afternoon.
Register and context
The meaning 'laut schnarchen' (to snore loudly) is colloquial. It is used to describe the noise as very loud and disturbing, similar to the sound of a saw. The context is always sleeping.
EXAMPLE
Mein Hund hat letzte Nacht so laut gesägt, dass ich aufgewacht bin.
My dog snored so loudly last night that I woke up.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'an jemandes Stuhl sägen' (to undermine someone's position) is a fixed construction with the preposition 'an' and the dative. It means that someone is trying to secretly weaken another person's position.
EXAMPLE
Er hat das Gefühl, dass sein neuer Kollege an seinem Stuhl sägt.
He has the feeling that his new colleague is undermining his position.
Compare with
sägen vs schnarchen
to snore
Schnarchen is the neutral term for loud breathing noises during sleep. Sägen is a colloquial, figurative term for this and often emphasizes that the snoring is especially loud and noisy. Schnarchen is appropriate in a factual statement, while in casual conversation sägen can express the stronger effect.
sägen
Mein Bruder sägt im Gästezimmer so laut, dass ich ihn durch die Wand höre.
My brother snores so loudly in the guest room that I can hear him through the wall.
schnarchen
Mein Bruder schnarcht im Gästezimmer so laut, dass ich ihn durch die Wand höre.
My brother snores so loudly in the guest room that I can hear him through the wall.
In real life
Loading video examples...