die Waagschale
scale pan
A pan on a scale into which the weight to be weighed or compared is placed.
EXAMPLE
Das Gewicht lag in der rechten Waagschale.
The weight was in the right-hand scale pan.
die Waagschale
scale pan
die Waagschale, die Waagschalen
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Meanings
etwas in die Waagschale werfen
to throw something into the balance
To put something decisive or particularly valuable at stake in order to achieve a specific result.
EXAMPLE
Für den Erfolg warf sie ihre ganze Erfahrung in die Waagschale.
She threw all her experience into the balance to achieve success.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Waagschale, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Waagschalen |
| genitive | der Waagschale |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Waagschale | die Waagschalen |
| accusative | die Waagschale | die Waagschalen |
| dative | der Waagschale | den Waagschalen |
| genitive | der Waagschale | der Waagschalen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word formation
'Waagschale' (scale pan) is made up of 'Waage' (scale) and 'Schale' (pan). The final -e of 'Waage' is dropped in the compound; it literally means a pan on a scale.
EXAMPLE
Die Münzen lagen in der linken Waagschale.
The coins were in the left-hand scale pan.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'Waagschale' (scale pan) often occurs with verbs that describe a position or weight, for example 'in der Waagschale liegen' (to lie in the scale pan) or 'in eine Waagschale gelegt werden' (to be placed in a scale pan).
EXAMPLE
Das schwere Metall wurde vorsichtig in die Waagschale gelegt.
The heavy metal was carefully placed in the scale pan.
Fixed expression
In the fixed expression 'etwas in die Waagschale werfen' (to throw something into the balance), the thing being put at stake is in the accusative, and 'in die Waagschale' indicates direction. The expression is often used with words such as 'Erfahrung' (experience), 'Argumente' (arguments), or 'sein ganzes Können' (all one's skill).
EXAMPLE
Für die schwierige Verhandlung warf er seine besten Argumente in die Waagschale.
He threw his best arguments into the balance for the difficult negotiations.
In real life
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