zuziehen
to draw closed
To close something by pulling, for example curtains, a noose, or a zipper.
EXAMPLE
Zieh bitte die Vorhänge zu, die Sonne blendet.
Please draw the curtains closed; the sun is glaring.
zuziehen
to draw closed / move in
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Meanings
zuziehen
to move in
To move to a new place in order to live there.
EXAMPLE
Viele junge Familien ziehen aus der Stadt in die Vororte.
Many young families are moving from the city to the suburbs.
sich etwas zuziehen
to sustain
To get an injury or illness.
EXAMPLE
Beim Sport hat er sich eine leichte Zerrung zugezogen.
He sustained a mild strain while doing sports.
sich zuziehen
to cloud over
Used for the sky or the weather and means that clouds are moving in and it is becoming overcast.
EXAMPLE
Der Himmel zieht sich zu, es gibt bald Regen.
The sky is clouding over; there will be rain soon.
zuziehen
to consult / bring in
To consult a person or bring them in to help with a task.
EXAMPLE
Für die Beurteilung des Schadens wurde ein externer Gutachter zugezogen.
An external expert was brought in to assess the damage.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Zuziehen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'zu' goes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Es wird kalt, zieh bitte die Jacke zu!
It's getting cold; please zip up the jacket!
Reflexive dative construction
In the meaning 'sich eine Krankheit/Verletzung holen' (to get an illness/injury), the verb is used reflexively with the dative: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) zuziehen'. The dative pronoun shows who experiences the consequence.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mir beim Wandern eine Erkältung zugezogen.
I caught a cold while hiking.
Context clue: weather
When the verb is reflexive and the subject is 'der Himmel' (the sky), 'sich zuziehen' means that clouds are gathering and the weather is getting worse.
EXAMPLE
Der Himmel hat sich plötzlich zugezogen und es begann zu regnen.
The sky suddenly clouded over and it began to rain.
Typical objects
In the meaning 'schliessen' (to close), the objects are typically things that can be closed by pulling, for example 'die Vorhänge' (the curtains), 'den Reissverschluss' (the zipper), or 'eine Schlinge' (a noose/loop).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du bitte den Reissverschluss an meinem Kleid zuziehen?
Can you please zip up the zipper on my dress?
Context clue: experts
When a person is used as the object, 'zuziehen' means that you ask this person for advice or help. Usually these are experts such as 'einen Arzt' (a doctor), 'einen Anwalt' (a lawyer), or 'einen Spezialisten' (a specialist).
EXAMPLE
Bei rechtlichen Fragen sollten Sie immer einen Anwalt zuziehen.
For legal questions, you should always consult a lawyer.
Compare with
einziehenumziehenschließenerkrankenaufziehenvorziehenzumachenhinziehenhinzuziehenzusammenziehenkonsultieren
zuziehen vs einziehen
to move in / collect / absorb
Einziehen and zuziehen can describe the same change of residence from different perspectives. Einziehen emphasizes moving into a specific apartment or house. Zuziehen, by contrast, emphasizes that someone comes to a place as a new resident, for example to a city or region.
zuziehen
Nora zieht im Mai neu nach Leipzig zu.
Nora is moving to Leipzig in May as a new resident.
einziehen
Nora zieht im Mai in ihre neue Wohnung ein.
Nora is moving into her new apartment in May.
In real life
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