German word

abschneiden

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapʃnaɪ̯dn̩/

Meaning

  • verbcut off

Example

Ich schneide den Ast ab.

I cut the branch off.

Illustration for abschneiden (cut off)

More examples

Bei der Prüfung konnte er gut abschneiden.

He did well in the exam.

Core concept

A branch is cleanly severed from a tree, while a person's result is treated as a clear outcome on a scale.

Common phrases

  • gut abschneiden

    do well

Similar words

schneiden: Cut something with a knife, blade, or scissors.
trennen: Separate connected things or parts by cutting or dividing them.
sich schlagen: Achieve a particular result in a test or competition.

Definition in German

einen Teil durch Abschneiden vom Ganzen entfernen; übertragen: bei Vergleichen oder Prüfungen ein bestimmtes Ergebnis erzielen.

Word origin

German formed "abschneiden" from "ab-" (away or off) and "schneiden" (to cut), with the concrete sense preceding its figurative result sense.

Usage tips

  • As a separable verb, "abschneiden" splits in main clauses, as in "Ich schneide den Ast ab", but its past participle is "abgeschnitten".

Other meanings

  • do wellverb

Opposites

  • durchfallenflunkverb

Related words

  • das Abschneidenresultnoun
  • abgeschnittencut offadjective

Word lists with this word