to dazzle / deceive / clad
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to dazzle
To dazzle someone with bright light, especially from headlights, so strongly that they temporarily cannot see anything.
Das entgegenkommende Auto hat mich mit seinem Fernlicht völlig verblendet.
The oncoming car completely dazzled me with its high beams.
'Verblenden' is an inseparable verb because it begins with the prefix 'ver-'. The prefix remains firmly attached to the verb 'blenden' (to dazzle/blind) in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Er hat sich von dem schnellen Erfolg verblenden lassen.
He let himself be blinded by the quick success.
You can recognize the meaning of 'verblenden' from the context. If it is about light and traffic, it means dazzling or blinding. If it is about character and deception, the figurative meaning is intended. In the context of construction and architecture, it refers to cladding walls.
Der Fahrer des LKW hat mich kurz verblendet.
The truck driver briefly dazzled me.
In the figurative meaning, the passive construction 'sich von etwas verblenden lassen' (to let oneself be deceived/blinded by something) is often used. It emphasizes that a person falls for a deception.
Sie hat sich von seinem guten Aussehen verblenden lassen.
She let herself be deceived by his good looks.
In the technical context, the verb follows the pattern 'etwas (accusative) mit etwas (dative) verblenden' (to clad something with something). The preposition 'mit' is crucial here.
Der Architekt hat die Fassade mit Natursteinplatten verblendet.
The architect clad the facade with natural stone panels.
to cheat / deceive
'betrügen' and 'verblenden' both have to do with deception. 'betrügen' is used when someone intentionally gives false information or hides something in order to gain an advantage. 'verblenden' more often means that someone no longer sees reality clearly, for example because of money, power, beauty, or big promises. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases someone judges something incorrectly. The difference is: with 'betrügen', a person acts actively and unfairly; with 'verblenden', someone is influenced in how they see things.
Er ließ sich von dem teuren Auto verblenden und übersah die Probleme des Angebots.
He let himself be dazzled by the expensive car and overlooked the problems with the offer.
Die Firma betrog ihre Kunden mit falschen Rechnungen.
The company deceived its customers with false invoices.