verbverb
abdrehen
turn off
Etwas durch Drehen schließen oder lösen, zum Beispiel einen Wasserhahn oder eine Schraube.
The German word "abdrehen" is a separable verb composed of "ab" (off) and "drehen" (to turn).
- drehen means "to turn" or "to twist,"
- abdrehen literally means "to turn off" or "to turn away."
Meaning:
- To turn off a device (e.g., a tap or a machine)
- To divert or turn away
- In colloquial speech, it can also mean "to freak out" or "go crazy."
Similar words:
- abschalten (to switch off)
- abstellen (to turn off/put down)
- wegdrehen (to turn away)
Difference:
- abdrehen specifically conveys the action of turning off or physically rotating something off, while
- abschalten may be more general to electronic or mental shutdown,
- abstellen often means to place or stop something,
- wegdrehen focuses more on the direction away physically.
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Examples
Er musste das Wasser schnell abdrehen.verb
He had to quickly turn off the water.
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