verheizen
to burn as fuel
To use something as fuel and consume it in the process.
EXAMPLE
Im Winter verheizen wir jedes Jahr mehrere Kubikmeter Holz.
Every winter, we burn several cubic meters of wood as fuel.
verheizen
to burn / use up
verheizen – verheizte – hat verheizt
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Meanings
jemanden verheizen
to use someone up
To use someone ruthlessly for a purpose while putting their health, safety, or professional future at risk.
EXAMPLE
Der Trainer verheizte den jungen Spieler, indem er ihn trotz seiner Verletzung immer wieder einsetzte.
The coach used the young player up by repeatedly fielding him despite his injury.
sich verheizen
to burn oneself out
To become exhausted through too much work or excessive strain and use up one's energy prematurely.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du ständig Überstunden machst, verheizt du dich nur.
If you keep working overtime, you'll only burn yourself out.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry verheizen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | verheize |
|---|---|
| du | verheizt |
| er/sie/es | verheizt |
| wir | verheizen |
| ihr | verheizt |
| sie | verheizen |
Simple past
| ich | verheizte |
|---|---|
| du | verheiztest |
| er/sie/es | verheizte |
| wir | verheizten |
| ihr | verheiztet |
| sie | verheizten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe verheizt |
|---|---|
| du | hast verheizt |
| er/sie/es | hat verheizt |
| wir | haben verheizt |
| ihr | habt verheizt |
| sie | haben verheizt |
Commands
| du | verheiz! verheize! |
|---|---|
| ihr | verheizt! |
| Sie | verheizen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte verheizt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest verheizt |
| er/sie/es | hatte verheizt |
| wir | hatten verheizt |
| ihr | hattet verheizt |
| sie | hatten verheizt |
Future
| ich | werde verheizen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst verheizen |
| er/sie/es | wird verheizen |
| wir | werden verheizen |
| ihr | werdet verheizen |
| sie | werden verheizen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | verheize |
|---|---|
| du | verheizest |
| er/sie/es | verheize |
| wir | verheizen |
| ihr | verheizet |
| sie | verheizen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | verheizte |
|---|---|
| du | verheiztest |
| er/sie/es | verheizte |
| wir | verheizten |
| ihr | verheiztet |
| sie | verheizten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | verheizen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu verheizen |
| present participle | verheizend |
| past participle | verheizt |
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
„Verheizen“ (to burn / use up) has the inseparable prefix „ver-“. In a main clause, the verb stays together, so the prefix is not separated from the stem.
EXAMPLE
Die Verantwortlichen verheizen ihre besten Kräfte viel zu früh.
Those responsible are burning through their best people far too early.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, „verheizen“ (to burn as fuel) is especially often used with fuels such as wood, coal, or oil. The object refers to the material that is consumed in the fire.
EXAMPLE
Die Familie verheizt im alten Ofen nur trockenes Holz.
The family burns only dry wood in the old stove.
Person as object
When a person is „verheizt“ (used up), they normally appear in the accusative as a direct object. The word often describes situations in sports, work, or politics in which someone continues to be used despite a heavy workload.
EXAMPLE
Der Verein verheizt seinen talentierten Torwart mit zu vielen Spielen.
The club is using up its talented goalkeeper by making him play too many matches.
Reflexive use
With „sich verheizen“ (to burn oneself out), the person affected is simultaneously the agent and the object; this is why the reflexive pronoun is in the accusative. An addition with „durch“ (through) or „mit“ (with) often indicates what causes the overload.
EXAMPLE
Durch ständige Nachtschichten verheizt sie sich langsam.
She is slowly burning herself out through constant night shifts.
In real life
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