abschrecken
scare off · discourage · deter
Jemandem Angst oder wenig Lust machen, damit er etwas nicht tut oder nicht weiter macht.
The German word "abschrecken" is a verb that means "to deter" or "to discourage." It is made up of the prefix "ab," which can imply separation or removal, and "schrecken," which means "to frighten" or "to scare." Thus, "abschrecken" literally conveys the idea of frightening someone away or causing them to withdraw due to fear or apprehension.
Similar words in German include "abwehren" (to fend off) and "dissuadieren" (to dissuade).
The distinction between "abschrecken" and these similar words lies in the emphasis on the fear or intimidation factor in "abschrecken," whereas "abwehren" emphasizes actively defending against something, and "dissuadieren" focuses on persuading someone not to take a certain action through reasoning or argument rather than fear.
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Examples
Lass dich von diesem Zustand nicht abschrecken.verb
Don't let this condition scare you off.
Viele Menschen lassen sich schnell abschrecken.verb
Many people are quickly discouraged.
Die harten Bedingungen schreckten viele Bewerber ab.verb
The harsh conditions deterred many applicants.
Schreckt dich die weite Reise etwa ab?verb
Does the long journey deter you at all?
Die hohen Preise schrecken die Touristen ab.verb
The high prices deter the tourists.
Seine Warnung schreckte uns zum Glück nicht ab.verb
Fortunately, his warning did not deter us.
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