to put on makeup
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to put on makeup
To apply cosmetic products such as makeup, lipstick, or eyeshadow to one's own face in order to change or improve one's appearance.
Sie schminkt sich jeden Morgen, bevor sie zur Arbeit geht.
She puts on makeup every morning before she goes to work.
The verb can be used reflexively when you apply makeup to your own face ('sich schminken' — to put on makeup). When you put makeup on another person, you use an accusative object ('jemanden schminken' — to apply makeup to someone).
Ich schminke mich nur zu besonderen Anlässen.
I only put on makeup for special occasions.
The opposite of 'schminken' (to put on makeup) is 'abschminken' (to remove makeup). The verb 'abschminken' is separable.
Vergiss nicht, dich vor dem Schlafengehen abzuschminken.
Don't forget to take off your makeup before going to sleep.
The colloquial expression has a fixed structure: the person who has to give something up is in the dative (wem? — to whom?), and the thing that should be given up is in the accusative (was? — what?).
Den teuren Urlaub kannst du dir dieses Jahr abschminken.
You can forget about the expensive vacation this year.
The idiom 'sich etwas abschminken' (to forget about something / to give up on something) is used almost exclusively in spoken, informal language and has a slightly commanding or sobering tone.
Die Idee, heute früher Feierabend zu machen, können wir uns abschminken.
We can forget about the idea of finishing work early today.
to forget
'vergessen' and 'sich etwas abschminken können' can both mean that something will no longer be pursued. 'vergessen' is normally used when a piece of information is no longer in your memory. But in sentences like 'Das kannst du vergessen' (You can forget about that), it often means: That is not going to happen. 'Sich etwas abschminken können' is a colloquial expression and means that you have to give up a wish or plan. The words can be confusing because it is not about makeup, but about a fixed expression. For normal remembering, use 'vergessen'; for an unrealistic plan, 'abschminken' sounds colloquial and clear.
Den freien Freitag kannst du dir abschminken, weil schon zu viele Kollegen Urlaub haben.
You can forget about having Friday off, because too many colleagues are already on vacation.
Nach dem langen Wochenende habe ich den Namen des neuen Kollegen vergessen.
After the long weekend, I forgot the new colleague's name.