person in front
der Vordermann, die Vordermänner
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person in front
The person who is directly in front of you in a line, queue, or in traffic.
An der Supermarktkasse hatte mein Vordermann einen übervollen Einkaufswagen.
At the supermarket checkout, the person in front of me had an overflowing shopping cart.
to whip into shape
To spur someone on to perform better or to get something (e.g., a company, a device) back into a good, orderly, and functioning condition.
Der neue Trainer soll die unmotivierte Mannschaft wieder auf Vordermann bringen.
The new coach is supposed to whip the unmotivated team back into shape.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Vordermänner |
| genitive | des Vordermannes |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Vordermann | die Vordermänner die Vorderleute |
| accusative | den Vordermann | die Vordermänner die Vorderleute |
| dative | dem Vordermann | den Vordermännern den Vorderleuten |
| genitive | des Vordermannes des Vordermanns | der Vordermänner der Vorderleute |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word 'Vordermann' is made up of 'vorder-' (a form of 'vor' (in front of)) and 'Mann' (man). So it literally describes the person who is at the front or standing in front of you.
Im Stau bewegte sich mein Vordermann plötzlich nicht mehr.
In the traffic jam, the person in front of me suddenly stopped moving.
The expression 'jemanden oder etwas auf Vordermann bringen' is very common. It means to motivate a person to perform better or to get something back into a good, orderly condition.
Nach dem Winter muss ich den Garten erst einmal wieder auf Vordermann bringen.
After the winter, I first have to get the garden back into shape.
Although the word contains 'Mann' (man), 'Vordermann' is used in everyday German for any person who is in front of you, regardless of gender. So the person can also be a woman.
Meine Vordermännin an der Kasse hat sehr lange gebraucht.
The woman in front of me at the checkout took a very long time.
