to take through a lock / smuggle / funnel
schleusen – schleuste – hat geschleust
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to take through a lock
To guide or cause a ship or another watercraft to pass through a lock so that it can overcome a difference in water level.
Der Schleusenwärter schleuste das Frachtschiff in den höher gelegenen Kanal.
The lock keeper took the cargo ship through the lock into the higher canal.
to smuggle
To bring someone or something secretly across a border, usually by bypassing controls.
Die Bande schleuste mehrere Menschen über die Grenze.
The gang smuggled several people across the border.
to funnel through
To deliberately guide someone or something through a sequence of locations, procedures, or stations.
Die Mitarbeiterin schleuste den Antrag schnell durch die verschiedenen Abteilungen.
The employee quickly funneled the application through the various departments.
| ich | schleuse |
|---|---|
| du | schleust |
| er/sie/es | schleust |
| wir | schleusen |
| ihr | schleust |
| sie | schleusen |
| ich | schleuste |
|---|---|
| du | schleustest |
| er/sie/es | schleuste |
| wir | schleusten |
| ihr | schleustet |
| sie | schleusten |
| ich | habe geschleust |
|---|---|
| du | hast geschleust |
| er/sie/es | hat geschleust |
| wir | haben geschleust |
| ihr | habt geschleust |
| sie | haben geschleust |
| du | schleus! schleuse! |
|---|---|
| ihr | schleust! |
| Sie | schleusen Sie! |
| ich | hatte geschleust |
|---|---|
| du | hattest geschleust |
| er/sie/es | hatte geschleust |
| wir | hatten geschleust |
| ihr | hattet geschleust |
| sie | hatten geschleust |
| ich | werde schleusen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst schleusen |
| er/sie/es | wird schleusen |
| wir | werden schleusen |
| ihr | werdet schleusen |
| sie | werden schleusen |
| ich | schleuse |
|---|---|
| du | schleusest |
| er/sie/es | schleuse |
| wir | schleusen |
| ihr | schleuset |
| sie | schleusen |
Used for reported speech.
| ich | schleuste |
|---|---|
| du | schleustest |
| er/sie/es | schleuste |
| wir | schleusten |
| ihr | schleustet |
| sie | schleusten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
| infinitive | schleusen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu schleusen |
| present participle | schleusend |
| past participle | geschleust |
'schleusen' (to take through a lock / smuggle / funnel) is derived from 'Schleuse' (lock). In the literal sense, something is guided through a lock; in the figurative meanings, the idea of deliberately guiding something through remains.
Der Lotse schleuste das Boot sicher durch die Schleuse.
The pilot safely guided the boat through the lock.
'schleusen' (to take through a lock / smuggle / funnel) is normally used with a person or thing as the accusative object. It is often followed by a phrase with 'durch' (through), which indicates the route or stations.
Ein Ordner schleuste die Besucher durch einen Nebeneingang in die Halle.
An usher funneled the visitors into the hall through a side entrance.
In the meaning involving watercraft, a ship or boat is often the object, and a lock is the destination or route. Typical collocations are 'ein Schiff durch die Schleuse schleusen' (to take a ship through the lock) and 'ein Boot in den Kanal schleusen' (to take a boat through the lock into the canal).
Wegen des Hochwassers konnten heute keine Schiffe geschleust werden.
Because of the flooding, no ships could be taken through the lock today.
The meaning involving secretly crossing a border can often be recognized from words such as 'heimlich' (secretly), 'nachts' (at night), 'über die Grenze' (across the border), or 'unter Umgehung der Kontrolle' (by bypassing the controls). This usage often appears in reports about illegal activities.
Die Schmuggler schleusten die Drogen nachts in einem Lastwagen über die Grenze.
The smugglers smuggled the drugs across the border at night in a truck.
When referring to procedures and institutions, 'schleusen' (to funnel through) is often used with 'Antrag' (application), 'Gesetz' (law), or 'durch die Abteilungen' (through the departments). The verb emphasizes a deliberate and usually rapid progression through several stages.
Die Regierung will das Gesetz noch vor der Sommerpause durch den Bundestag schleusen.
The government wants to push the law through the Bundestag before the summer recess.
