to stretch
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to stretch
To deliberately extend one's limbs or body, often to relax the muscles or after waking up.
Jeden Morgen nach dem Aufstehen muss ich mich erst einmal ausgiebig strecken.
Every morning after getting up, I first have to stretch thoroughly.
to dilute
To dilute a liquid or substance by adding another, usually cheaper substance in order to increase the quantity. This often leads to a reduction in quality.
Der Orangensaft schmeckte wässrig, er war offensichtlich mit Wasser gestreckt.
The orange juice tasted watery; it had obviously been diluted with water.
to stretch
To extend or spread something over a longer period of time so that it lasts longer.
Wir müssen unser Budget strecken, um bis zum Monatsende auszukommen.
We have to stretch our budget to get by until the end of the month.
to stretch
To spread out or pull something taut so that it is smooth and long.
Hilf mir mal, das Seil über den Hof zu strecken.
Help me stretch the rope across the yard.
to knock someone down
To strike someone down or defeat them so that they fall to the ground. Often used in the context of fights or sports.
Der Boxer streckte seinen Gegner in der dritten Runde zu Boden.
The boxer knocked his opponent down in the third round.
The verb 'strecken' (to stretch) is related to the noun 'die Strecke' (distance/route). Both words contain the idea of length, distance, or extension.
Die Läufer müssen eine lange Strecke zurücklegen.
The runners have to cover a long distance.
You can recognize the meaning of 'strecken' from context: the reflexive pronoun 'sich' points to the body movement. The preposition 'mit' plus a substance points to dilution. Abstract nouns such as 'Budget' (budget) or 'Geld' (money) point to extending something over time.
Ich strecke mich jeden Morgen im Bett.
I stretch in bed every morning.
In this meaning, 'strecken' is always a reflexive verb. The reflexive pronoun ('mich', 'dich', 'sich', etc.) is in the accusative and is necessary.
Die Katze streckt sich genüsslich in der Sonne.
The cat stretches contentedly in the sun.
When 'strecken' means to dilute, the substance that is added is introduced with the preposition 'mit' + dative.
Die Soße wurde mit Sahne gestreckt, um sie milder zu machen.
The sauce was diluted with cream to make it milder.
This abstract meaning is often used with financial or material resources. Typical nouns are 'das Budget' (the budget), 'das Geld' (the money), or 'die Vorräte' (the supplies).
Um Geld zu sparen, müssen wir das Heizöl über den Winter strecken.
To save money, we have to stretch the heating oil through the winter.
The expression 'jemanden zu Boden strecken' (to knock someone to the ground) is a fixed unit. It means to bring someone down with a blow or shove.
Mit einem gezielten Hieb streckte der Ritter seinen Gegner zu Boden.
With a well-aimed blow, the knight knocked his opponent to the ground.
to stretch / tighten / peep
Both words work when you make fabric taut and smooth. “Strecken” emphasizes more strongly that the fabric is spread out and pulled lengthwise, while “spannen” emphasizes the taut state or the fact that it is secured under tension. Choose the word according to the aspect you want to emphasize.
Wir strecken den Stoff über den Rahmen, damit er glatt und lang ist.
We stretch the fabric over the frame so that it is smooth and long.
Wir spannen den Stoff straff über den Rahmen.
We stretch the fabric tightly over the frame.
