die Schusslinie
line of fire
The direction or area in which a shot is fired and a target is located.
EXAMPLE
Die Soldaten mussten die Schusslinie des Maschinengewehrs meiden.
The soldiers had to avoid the machine gun's line of fire.
die Schusslinie
line of fire
die Schusslinie, die Schusslinien
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Meanings
in der Schusslinie stehen
to be in the firing line
To become the target of attacks, criticism, or accusations and thus be particularly at risk or under pressure.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Skandal steht der Minister in der Schusslinie der Öffentlichkeit.
After the scandal, the minister is in the firing line of public criticism.
jemanden aus der Schusslinie nehmen
to shield someone
To protect someone from attacks, criticism, or a dangerous situation, or to remove them from it.
EXAMPLE
Die Partei nahm den Vorsitzenden aus der Schusslinie und ließ eine Sprecherin auftreten.
The party shielded the chairperson from criticism and had a spokeswoman speak instead.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Schusslinie, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Schusslinien |
| genitive | der Schusslinie |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Schusslinie | die Schusslinien |
| accusative | die Schusslinie | die Schusslinien |
| dative | der Schusslinie | den Schusslinien |
| genitive | der Schusslinie | der Schusslinien |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Schusslinie' (line of fire) consists of 'Schuss' (shot) and 'Linie' (line). The image of a line also helps explain the figurative expressions: a person is in the path of an attack or is removed from it.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrer umstrittenen Entscheidung geriet die Bürgermeisterin in die Schusslinie der Presse.
Her controversial decision put the mayor in the firing line of press criticism.
Location and movement
To describe being in the danger zone, use 'in der Schusslinie' (in the line of fire) with the dative. Movement into this area is expressed with 'in die Schusslinie' (into the line of fire) and the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Der Wagen stand direkt in der Schusslinie.
The car was directly in the line of fire.
Während der Schießübung lief plötzlich ein Tier in die Schusslinie.
During target practice, an animal suddenly ran into the line of fire.
Typical collocations
'In der Schusslinie stehen' (to be in the firing line) describes an ongoing situation; 'in die Schusslinie geraten' (to come into the firing line) emphasizes its beginning. The source of the criticism can be added using a genitive after 'Schusslinie' (line of fire), such as 'der Presse' (of the press) or 'der Opposition' (of the opposition).
EXAMPLE
Die Ministerin steht seit Wochen in der Schusslinie der Opposition.
The minister has been in the firing line of opposition criticism for weeks.
Nach der Veröffentlichung der Zahlen geriet die Firmenleitung in die Schusslinie der Presse.
After the figures were published, the company's management came into the firing line of press criticism.
Fixed sentence pattern
In 'jemanden aus der Schusslinie nehmen' (to shield someone from criticism or danger), the person being protected is in the accusative. The fixed element 'aus der Schusslinie' (out of the line of fire) contains a dative because 'aus' (out of) always takes the dative.
EXAMPLE
Die Chefin nahm den neuen Mitarbeiter aus der Schusslinie, indem sie selbst die Verantwortung für den Fehler übernahm.
The boss shielded the new employee from criticism by taking responsibility for the mistake herself.
In real life
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