der Strich
line / stroke
A usually thin and straight line drawn with a writing or drawing instrument.
EXAMPLE
Bitte ziehe einen Strich unter das Ergebnis der Rechnung.
Please draw a line under the result of the calculation.
der Strich
line / stroke
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Meanings
auf den Strich gehen
to work the streets
In a fixed expression, the practice of prostitution, usually on the street.
EXAMPLE
In ihrer Verzweiflung sah sie keinen anderen Ausweg, als auf den Strich zu gehen.
In her desperation, she saw no other way out than to work the streets.
einen Strich unter etwas ziehen
to draw a line under something
To consider a matter finished and no longer want to talk or think about it.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem langen Streit wollte er endlich einen Strich unter die Sache ziehen und neu anfangen.
After the long argument, he finally wanted to draw a line under the matter and start over.
gegen den Strich gehen
to go against the grain
To be unpleasant to someone, or to contradict their principles or feelings.
EXAMPLE
Es geht mir gegen den Strich, wenn Versprechen nicht eingehalten werden.
It goes against the grain for me when promises are not kept.
ein Strich in der Landschaft
a beanpole
A colloquial, figurative description of a very thin, frail person.
EXAMPLE
Er isst kaum etwas und ist nur noch ein Strich in der Landschaft.
He hardly eats anything and is nothing but a beanpole now.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Strich' (the line/stroke) belongs to the word family of the verb 'streichen' (to stroke; to paint; to cross out). A 'Strich' is the result when you move a pen across a piece of paper.
EXAMPLE
Er strich den falschen Satz mit einem roten Strich durch.
He crossed out the wrong sentence with a red line.
Typical collocations
In its basic meaning, 'Strich' (line/stroke) is often combined with the verbs 'ziehen' (to draw) or 'machen' (to make). A very common compound is also 'der Strichcode' (barcode) on products.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mit dem Lineal einen geraden Strich ziehen?
Can you draw a straight line with the ruler?
Fixed expression
The expression 'auf den Strich gehen' (to work the streets) is a fixed idiom and a colloquial expression for engaging in street prostitution. It is used only in this specific context.
EXAMPLE
Der Film handelt von jungen Menschen, die gezwungen werden, auf den Strich zu gehen.
The film is about young people who are forced to work the streets.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'einen Strich unter etwas ziehen' (to draw a line under something) means to consider something finished. The thing being ended comes after the preposition 'unter' in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Streit zogen sie einen Strich unter die Vergangenheit und vertrugen sich wieder.
After the argument, they drew a line under the past and made up again.
Dative construction
The idiom 'jemandem gegen den Strich gehen' (to go against someone's grain) uses the dative. The person who finds something unpleasant is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Es geht mir gegen den Strich, wenn Leute im Zug laut telefonieren.
It goes against the grain for me when people talk loudly on the phone on the train.
Compare with
Strich vs Linie
line
Linie and Strich can both refer to something drawn. Linie tends to emphasize a longer or continuous course, while Strich refers to a single, specific stroke made with a writing or drawing instrument. For a short, single mark, Strich is therefore usually more appropriate.
Strich
Mach neben dem ersten Punkt einen kurzen Strich.
Make a short stroke next to the first dot.
Linie
Zieh eine gerade Linie vom ersten Punkt bis zum letzten.
Draw a straight line from the first dot to the last.
In real life
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