auftreiben
get hold of
Etwas oder jemanden nach Suchen finden und herbringen.
The German verb "auftreiben" consists of the parts:
- auf (prefix meaning "up" or "upwards")
- treiben (verb meaning "to drive", "to push", or "to force")
Meaning:
"auftreiben" means "to procure," "to find," or "to drum up" something that is needed, often with effort. It can also imply "to raise," as in raising money or resources.
Similar words:
- beschaffen (to obtain/procure)
- finden (to find)
- ergattern (to snag/get hold of, often with some difficulty)
Difference:
While "beschaffen" or "finden" are more neutral in tone, "auftreiben" often implies some effort or struggle involved in obtaining what is needed. "Ergattern" usually implies a lucky or rare catch, while "auftreiben" is used broadly for actively sourcing something.
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Examples
Wo könnten wir schnell etwas Geld auftreiben?verb
Where could we quickly get hold of some money?
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