to shower / drench
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to shower
To give someone a very large amount of something immaterial, such as praise, gifts, or affection.
Nach ihrem Auftritt wurde die Sängerin mit Applaus und Blumen überschüttet.
After her performance, the singer was showered with applause and flowers.
to drench
To pour or throw something, usually a liquid or a large amount of small things, over someone or something so that it is completely covered.
Aus Versehen hat er sich den ganzen Eimer Wasser überschüttet.
By accident, he drenched himself with the whole bucket of water.
The verb 'überschütten' (to shower / drench) is inseparable. The prefix 'über-' remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms and is not placed at the end of the sentence.
Die Fans überschütteten die Band mit Blumen.
The fans showered the band with flowers.
The verb is almost always used in the structure 'jemanden (accusative) mit etwas (dative) überschütten' (to shower/drench someone with something). The accusative object is the person or thing receiving something, and the dative object with 'mit' is what is being given.
Sie überschüttete ihn mit Vorwürfen.
She showered him with accusations.
You can tell whether the literal or figurative meaning is intended from the object after 'mit'. If it is something material like 'Wasser' (water) or 'Sand' (sand), the literal meaning is intended. With abstract things like 'Lob' (praise) or 'Kritik' (criticism), the figurative meaning is intended.
Er wurde mit kaltem Wasser überschüttet.
He was drenched with cold water.
In the figurative meaning, 'überschütten' (to shower) is often combined with positive but also negative emotional things. Typical phrases are to shower someone with praise, gifts, love, but also with criticism or accusations.
Die Großeltern überschütten ihre Enkel mit Geschenken.
The grandparents shower their grandchildren with gifts.
to flood
Both verbs can express giving a person a very large amount of praise, attention, or affection. Überfluten generally emphasizes the overwhelming quantity, whereas überschütten refers especially to showering someone with something generously and intensely. With praise or affection, überschütten is therefore often the more idiomatic choice.
Nach ihrem Sieg überschütteten die Fans die Sängerin mit Lob.
After their victory, the fans showered the singer with praise.
Nach ihrem Sieg überfluteten die Fans die Sängerin mit Lob und Nachrichten.
After their victory, the fans flooded the singer with praise and messages.
