jemandem den Weg weisen
to show the way
To show or explain to someone which direction they need to go in order to reach a destination.
EXAMPLE
Können Sie mir bitte den Weg zum Bahnhof weisen?
Could you please show me the way to the train station?
weisen
to point / show
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Meanings
jemanden aus etwas weisen
to expel from
To tell someone, often formally or authoritatively, to leave a place.
EXAMPLE
Der Störenfried wurde vom Schiedsrichter des Platzes verwiesen.
The troublemaker was expelled from the field by the referee.
etwas von sich weisen
to reject
To firmly reject and deny an accusation, allegation, or responsibility.
EXAMPLE
Der Minister wies alle Korruptionsvorwürfe weit von sich.
The minister firmly rejected all accusations of corruption.
jemanden in die Schranken weisen
to put in place
To clearly show someone their limits and reprimand them for inappropriate behavior.
EXAMPLE
Mit einer klaren Ansage wurde der unverschämte Redner in die Schranken gewiesen.
With a clear statement, the impudent speaker was put in his place.
auf etwas weisen
to point to
To point in a certain direction or at a certain object. This use is very formal or literary.
EXAMPLE
Die Statue scheint mit dem Finger auf den fernen Horizont zu weisen.
The statue seems to point with its finger toward the distant horizon.
Usage tips
Register and style
The verb 'weisen' (to point/show) by itself is rare today and belongs to a very formal or literary style. In everyday language, it is used almost exclusively in fixed expressions.
EXAMPLE
Ein Schild wies den Weg zum Ausgang.
A sign showed the way to the exit.
Word family
The basic meaning of 'weisen' (to point/show) is 'zeigen' (to show) or 'richten' (to direct). You can recognize it in many important verbs such as 'hinweisen' (to point out), 'beweisen' (to prove), 'anweisen' (to instruct), and 'verweisen' (to refer).
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte Sie auf einen wichtigen Punkt hinweisen.
I would like to point out an important point to you.
Dative construction
In the expression 'jemandem den Weg weisen' (to show someone the way), the person being helped is always in the dative. The object that is shown ('der Weg' — the way) is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ein freundlicher Passant wies uns den Weg zum Museum.
A friendly passerby showed us the way to the museum.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'jemanden aus einem Ort weisen' (to expel someone from a place) expresses an authoritative order to leave. The place is used with the preposition 'aus' plus the dative.
EXAMPLE
Der Wirt wies den betrunkenen Gast aus der Bar.
The landlord expelled the drunk guest from the bar.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas von sich weisen' (to reject something) is used to firmly deny accusations or responsibility. The part 'von sich' is a fixed component of the expression.
EXAMPLE
Die Politikerin wies die Kritik entschieden von sich.
The politician firmly rejected the criticism.
Idiomatic expression
'Jemanden in die Schranken weisen' (to put someone in their place) is an idiom and means to show someone their limits. 'In die Schranken' is a fixed part of this expression and cannot be changed.
EXAMPLE
Als er unhöflich wurde, hat sie ihn sofort in die Schranken gewiesen.
When he became rude, she immediately put him in his place.
Compare with
weisen vs zeigen
to show
zeigen and weisen can both express that someone explains a direction. zeigen is the neutral choice. weisen sounds more formal or elevated and is used especially in the fixed expression „jemandem den Weg weisen“ (to show someone the way).
weisen
Die Mitarbeiterin weist mir den Weg zum richtigen Bahnsteig.
The employee shows me the way to the correct platform.
zeigen
Die Mitarbeiterin zeigt mir den Weg zum richtigen Bahnsteig.
The employee shows me the way to the correct platform.
In real life
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