die Schleuder
sling
A simple device used to throw small stones or other objects a long way by swinging them.
EXAMPLE
Mit einer Schleuder schoss David den Stein auf Goliath.
David shot the stone at Goliath with a sling.
die Schleuder
sling / spin dryer / clunker
die Schleuder, die Schleudern
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Meanings
die Schleuder
spin dryer
A device that removes liquid or other substances from something by spinning it rapidly.
EXAMPLE
Die Schleuder entfernte das Wasser aus der gewaschenen Wäsche.
The spin dryer removed the water from the washed laundry.
die Schleuder
clunker
Colloquially, an old or unreliable car.
EXAMPLE
Mit dieser alten Schleuder komme ich kaum noch den Berg hinauf.
I can barely get up the hill in this old clunker.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schleuder, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schleudern |
| genitive | der Schleuder |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schleuder | die Schleudern |
| accusative | die Schleuder | die Schleudern |
| dative | der Schleuder | den Schleudern |
| genitive | der Schleuder | der Schleudern |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Schleuder' (sling / spin dryer / clunker) belongs to the word family of 'schleudern' (to fling / spin). Depending on the context, the noun refers to a device used to fling something or to something that works by spinning.
EXAMPLE
Der Junge schleuderte mit seiner Schleuder einen Stein über den Bach.
The boy used his sling to fling a stone over the stream.
Context clue
The meaning can often be identified from the surrounding words: 'Steine' (stones) and 'schießen' (shoot) point to the throwing device, 'Wäsche' (laundry) and 'Wasser' (water) to the device used for drying, and 'Auto' (car) or 'Wagen' (vehicle) to the colloquial term for an old vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Mit der Schleuder zielte der Junge auf eine leere Dose.
The boy took aim at an empty can with the sling.
Nach dem Waschen lief die Schleuder noch einige Minuten.
After the wash, the spin dryer continued running for a few minutes.
Seine alte Schleuder blieb mitten auf der Landstraße stehen.
His old clunker broke down in the middle of the country road.
Typical collocations
In this meaning, 'Schleuder' (spin dryer) often occurs in connection with laundry and water. Typical phrases are 'die Wäsche in die Schleuder geben' (to put the laundry in the spin dryer) and 'die Wäsche aus der Schleuder nehmen' (to take the laundry out of the spin dryer).
EXAMPLE
Meine Mutter gab die nasse Wäsche in die Schleuder.
My mother put the wet laundry in the spin dryer.
Derogatory tone
When referring to a car, 'Schleuder' (clunker) usually expresses a derogatory or mocking attitude. The word is often combined with expressions such as 'alte' (old) or 'rostige' (rusty).
EXAMPLE
Er will seine rostige Schleuder so bald wie möglich verkaufen.
He wants to sell his rusty clunker as soon as possible.
Compare with
Schleuder vs Katapult
catapult
Both words refer to devices that hurl objects a long distance. “Schleuder” usually refers to a simple device for small stones or similar objects. “Katapult” emphasizes a device that uses stored tension, such as a historical weapon of war. Size alone does not determine which word to use.
Schleuder
Mit einer einfachen Schleuder schleudert er einen kleinen Stein über die Wiese.
He uses a simple sling to hurl a small stone across the meadow.
Katapult
Mit einem kleinen Katapult mit gespanntem Wurfarm schleudert er einen Stein über die Wiese.
He uses a small catapult with its throwing arm under tension to hurl a stone across the meadow.
In real life
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