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durchbringen

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: Durchbringen

German

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Etymology

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From Middle High German durchbringen, from Old High German duruhbringan, from Proto-West Germanic *þuruhbringan. Equivalent to durch- +‎ bringen.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): [ˈdʊʁçˌbʁɪŋən]
  • Audio:(file)
  • Hyphenation: durch‧brin‧gen

Verb

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durchbringen (irregular weak, third-person singular present bringt durch, past tense brachte durch, past participle durchgebracht, past subjunctive brächte durch, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to be able to bring (something) through
    Die Toreinfahrt ist zwar schmal, aber ich bringe meinen Wagen schon durch.
    The driveway gate may be narrow but I’m sure I’ll manage to get my cart through.
  2. (transitive) to cause (something) to pass
    1. to cause (something or someone) to pass an exam, a test, an inspection; win an election; etc.
      Die Parteiführung wird bei der kommenden Ausschussvorsitzendenwahl versuchen, ihren Wunschkandidaten durchzubringen.
      In the upcoming vote for committee chair, the party leadership will attempt to get its preferred candidate elected.
      „Wie lief’s mit deiner Karre beim TÜV?“ – „Ich hab’ sie nochmal durchgebracht!“
      “How’d it go with your ride at the inspection?”—“I made it through one more time!”
    2. to overcome opposition so as to make (a cause) advance in proceedings, to get (a bill) passed
      Die zerstrittene Regierungskoalition brachte nur wenige Gesetzesvorhaben durch.
      The fractured governing coalition managed to pass only a few bills.
      Eine Splittergruppe trug einen Änderungsantrag im Plenum vor, brachte ihn aber nicht einmal bis zur Endabstimmung durch.
      A splinter group proposed an amendment in the plenary session but failed to even carry it along until the final vote.
  3. (transitive or reflexive) to support (someone’s) life or livelihood
    1. (transitive) to provide (someone, an animal, etc.) with (usually the bare minimum of) sustenance, to allow (someone) the minimum needed to get by
      Unsere Almosen haben die Waise und ihren Hund mehr schlecht als recht durchgebracht.
      The orphan and their dog just barely got by on our alms.
      In manch hartem Winter müssen die Hirten die Herde mit Sägespänen durchbringen.
      Some hard winters, the herders have to make the herd survive on sawdust.
    2. (reflexive, usually with adverbial phrase) to eke out a living, to get by, to make ends meet
      sich mit ehrlicher Arbeit durchbringento make ends meet with honest work
    3. (transitive, informal) to render medical aid (to someone) so as to save their life
      Die Sanitäter und Ärzte haben das Unfallopfer trotz seiner lebensbedrohlichen Verletzungen durchgebracht.
      The paramedics and doctors preserved the life of the victim of the accident in spite of their life-threatening injuries.
  4. (transitive) to squander
    Mit seiner Spielsucht brachte der Spross einer einst wohlhabenden Familie seine gesamte Erbschaft durch.
    Their gambling addiction had the scion of a previously well-off family squander their whole inheritance.
    Synonyms: verprassen, vergeuden

Conjugation

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Derived terms

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Further reading

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