abkaufen

The German verb "abkaufen" is a separable verb made up of ab (a prefix meaning "off" or "away") and kaufen ("to buy").

• Meaning:
  1. Literally, "to buy something off someone" (e.g., buying an item someone owns).
  2. Figuratively, "to believe someone" or "to accept what someone says" (e.g., Ich kaufe dir das nicht ab — "I don't buy that from you").

Similar words:

• einkaufen (to shop, to buy generally)
• kaufen (to buy)
• abnehmen (to take away, sometimes used figuratively as "to buy into")

Differences:

• abkaufen implies buying from someone or accepting a claim, giving it a transactional or accepting nuance.
• kaufen is the general term for buying without this nuance.
• einkaufen emphasizes the act of shopping or purchasing goods, often in stores.