to go into hiding / to submerge
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to go into hiding
To hide and disappear from public view in order not to be found, often to avoid persecution or arrest.
Nach dem Banküberfall ist der Hauptverdächtige bei Freunden untergetaucht.
After the bank robbery, the main suspect went into hiding with friends.
to submerge
To go completely below the surface of water or another liquid.
Der Taucher holte tief Luft, bevor er im See untertauchte.
The diver took a deep breath before submerging in the lake.
'Untertauchen' (to go into hiding / to submerge) is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'unter-' goes at the end; in a subordinate clause it remains attached to the verb, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in between.
Der Verdächtige tauchte sofort unter.
The suspect went into hiding immediately.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about water, swimming, or diving, the literal meaning is intended. If it is about pursuit, crime, or being impossible to find, the figurative meaning 'sich verstecken' (to hide) is intended.
Die Kinder lieben es, im Schwimmbad unterzutauchen.
The children love submerging in the swimming pool.
In the meaning 'sich verstecken' (to hide), the preposition 'bei' is often used to indicate the place or person with whom someone is hiding. 'In' with a place is also common.
Er ist für eine Weile bei seinen Eltern untergetaucht.
He went into hiding at his parents' house for a while.
to dive / dip
Tauchen usually refers to an activity underwater in which someone stays there for a certain amount of time. Untertauchen mainly emphasizes the moment when the person completely disappears beneath the surface. Use tauchen for the longer activity and untertauchen for disappearing beneath the surface.
Im Schwimmbad taucht Ben kurz unter, als eine Welle kommt.
Ben briefly goes underwater in the pool when a wave comes.
Im Schwimmbad taucht Ben jeden Morgen zwanzig Minuten lang.
Ben dives in the pool for twenty minutes every morning.
