umlegen
to pass on
To transfer or distribute costs or expenses to someone else.
EXAMPLE
Der Vermieter versucht, die Kosten für die Renovierung auf die Mieter umzulegen.
The landlord is trying to pass the renovation costs on to the tenants.
umlegen
to pass on / flip / move
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Meanings
umlegen
to flip
To move a switch or lever into another position in order to turn something on or off.
EXAMPLE
Er legte den Hebel um und die Maschine startete.
He flipped the lever and the machine started.
umlegen
to knock down
To cause something standing upright to fall; to fell.
EXAMPLE
Der Sturm hat in der ganzen Straße mehrere Bäume umgelegt.
The storm knocked down several trees along the whole street.
umlegen
to bump off
Colloquial for to kill or murder someone.
EXAMPLE
Im Krimi droht der Gangster damit, den Zeugen umzulegen.
In the crime novel, the gangster threatens to bump off the witness.
umlegen
to move
To put something in another place or move it into another position.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen das Stromkabel umlegen, damit niemand darüber stolpert.
We need to move the power cable so that no one trips over it.
sich etwas umlegen
to put around oneself
To put a piece of clothing or accessory, usually a scarf, shawl, or coat, around the body, neck, or shoulders.
EXAMPLE
Als es kühler wurde, legte sie sich eine Decke um die Schultern.
When it got cooler, she put a blanket around her shoulders.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Umlegen' (to pass on / flip / move) is a separable verb. The prefix 'um' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er legt den Schalter um.
He flips the switch.
Word structure
The verb consists of the prefix 'um-' and the verb 'legen' (to lay/put). The prefix 'um' often indicates a change of position, a change of state, or a distribution, which connects the different meanings of the word.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Teppich etwas umlegen, damit er gerade liegt?
Can you please move the rug a little so that it lies straight?
Preposition 'auf'
When costs are distributed, the preposition 'auf' is used with the accusative. The structure is: 'Kosten auf jemanden umlegen' (to pass costs on to someone).
EXAMPLE
Die Firma legte die gestiegenen Transportkosten auf die Kunden um.
The company passed the increased transport costs on to the customers.
Typical collocations
In this meaning, 'umlegen' (to flip) is used almost exclusively with the nouns 'Schalter' (switch) or 'Hebel' (lever). It describes the mechanical movement used to operate a device.
EXAMPLE
Um die Maschine zu stoppen, müssen Sie nur diesen Hebel umlegen.
To stop the machine, you only need to flip this lever.
Register: colloquial speech
The meaning 'jemanden töten' (to kill someone) is very informal colloquial language. You often find it in crime novels or films, but it should be avoided in formal or everyday conversations.
EXAMPLE
Der Detektiv vermutete, dass die Mafia den Zeugen umgelegt hatte.
The detective suspected that the mafia had bumped off the witness.
Reflexive with dative
When putting on a piece of clothing, the verb is used reflexively with a dative pronoun: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) umlegen' (to put something around oneself).
EXAMPLE
Mir ist kalt, ich lege mir schnell einen Schal um.
I'm cold; I'll quickly put a scarf around myself.
Compare with
umlegen vs töten
to kill
Both verbs can mean that someone is killed. “Töten” is the neutral, direct term. “Umlegen” is colloquial in this sense, often crude or euphemistic, and is more suitable for casual speech or a threat than for a factual report.
umlegen
Der Gangster drohte, er werde den Wachmann umlegen.
The gangster threatened that he would take out the security guard.
töten
Im Bericht steht, dass der Täter den Wachmann tötete.
The report states that the perpetrator killed the security guard.
In real life
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