01
schieben
to push
To move something from one place to another by pressing it along a surface, without lifting it.
example
Hilf mir mal, den Schrank an die andere Wand zu schieben.
Help me push the wardrobe over to the other wall.
schieben
to push
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Use with direction
In its basic meaning, 'schieben' (to push) is often combined with a preposition that indicates a direction. Typical examples are 'etwas zur Seite schieben' (to push something to the side), 'etwas an die Wand schieben' (to push something against/to the wall), or 'etwas unter das Bett schieben' (to push something under the bed).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Stuhl ein Stück nach rechts schieben?
Can you please push the chair a bit to the right?
Fixed expression
The idiom 'die Schuld auf jemanden schieben' (to shift the blame onto someone) is very common. It means giving another person responsibility for something negative. The preposition 'auf' requires the accusative here.
EXAMPLE
Es ist unfair, die ganze Schuld nur auf eine Person zu schieben.
It's unfair to shift all the blame onto just one person.
Putting off tasks
The expression 'etwas vor sich her schieben' means to procrastinate on a task. The reflexive pronoun 'sich' is a fixed part of the construction here.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, deine Hausaufgaben vor dir her zu schieben und fang endlich an!
Stop putting off your homework and finally get started!
Reflexive use
The reflexive verb 'sich schieben' describes the slow, pressing movement of a large crowd or a line of vehicles. The subject here is always a mass.
EXAMPLE
Der Verkehr schob sich nur langsam über die Brücke.
The traffic moved only slowly across the bridge.
Register: colloquial
The expression 'Dienst schieben' is a colloquial way of saying 'arbeiten' (to work) or 'im Dienst sein' (to be on duty). It is often used by people who work shifts, such as police officers, doctors, or factory workers.
EXAMPLE
Mein Vater muss am Wochenende wieder Dienst schieben.
My father has to be on duty again this weekend.
Register: colloquial
Expressions like 'Panik schieben' or 'Frust schieben' are modern, very colloquial phrases. They mean that someone suddenly starts feeling panicked or frustrated.
EXAMPLE
Als ich mein Handy nicht finden konnte, habe ich kurz Panik geschoben.
When I couldn't find my phone, I freaked out for a moment.
Compare with
schieben vs arbeiten
to work
'arbeiten' and 'Dienst schieben' can both mean that someone is working or on duty. 'arbeiten' is the normal, neutral word and fits almost any situation. 'Dienst schieben' is colloquial and is used especially for shifts, on-call duty, or long periods of duty. Learners may confuse 'schieben' here because the verb normally means a movement. But in the fixed expression 'Dienst schieben' (to be on duty), it is not about pushing, but about working while on duty. In everyday and official situations, 'arbeiten' is the safer choice.
schieben
Emma schiebt heute Nachtdienst, deshalb kommt sie nicht zum Treffen.
Emma is on night duty today, so she is not coming to the meetup.
arbeiten
Nach dem Unterricht arbeitet er noch zwei Stunden in der Bibliothek.
After class, he works for another two hours in the library.
In real life
Loading video examples...