to deceive / demonstrate
Loading your saved state.
to deceive
To deceive or lie to someone by pretending that something is true even though it is not.
Lass dir von ihm nichts vormachen, er will dich nur ausnutzen.
Don't let him deceive you; he only wants to take advantage of you.
to demonstrate
To demonstrate an activity or process to someone so that the person can learn it and imitate it.
Die Tanzlehrerin macht den Schülern die komplizierten Schritte vor.
The dance teacher demonstrates the complicated steps for the students.
to attach to the front
To fasten or attach something to the front of something else.
Er machte das neue Schloss vor die Tür.
He attached the new lock to the front of the door.
'Vormachen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'vor' comes at the end in main clauses; in subordinate clauses the verb stays together, and in the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' goes in the middle.
Der Trainer macht uns die Übung vor.
The coach demonstrates the exercise for us.
In the meanings 'täuschen' (to deceive) and 'demonstrieren' (to demonstrate), 'vormachen' often follows the pattern: subject + dative object (person) + accusative object (thing). The person to whom something is shown or falsely presented is in the dative.
Er versucht, seinem Chef gute Arbeit vorzumachen.
He is trying to make his boss believe he is doing good work.
Whether 'vormachen' means 'täuschen' (to deceive) or 'demonstrieren' (to demonstrate) depends on the context. If it is about learning a skill, 'demonstrieren' is meant. If it is about lies or false impressions, 'täuschen' is meant.
Der Handwerker hat mir vorgemacht, wie man die Fliesen verlegt.
The craftsman demonstrated to me how to lay the tiles.
The expression 'sich (Dat.) nichts vormachen lassen' is very common and means that one should not let oneself be deceived or lied to. Another variant is 'sich selbst nichts vormachen' (not to fool oneself).
Lass dir von der Werbung nichts vormachen!
Don't let advertising fool you!
In the meaning 'demonstrieren' (to demonstrate), the verb is often combined with concrete actions. Typical phrases are: 'eine Übung vormachen' (to demonstrate an exercise), 'einen Tanzschritt vormachen' (to demonstrate a dance step), or 'eine Bewegung vormachen' (to demonstrate a movement).
Die Physiotherapeutin hat mir eine einfache Übung für den Rücken vorgemacht.
The physiotherapist demonstrated a simple exercise for my back.
to show
Both verbs can describe visibly demonstrating an activity. Zeigen generally provides information or makes a process clear, even without the intention that someone imitate it. Vormachen presents the activity as an example so that someone can learn it and then imitate it.
Die Trainerin machte der Gruppe die neue Übung vor, damit alle sie nachmachen konnten.
The trainer demonstrated the new exercise for the group so that everyone could imitate it.
Die Trainerin zeigte der Gruppe die neue Übung.
The trainer showed the group the new exercise.
