Polyglot Dictionary

durchgreifen

/ˈdʊʁçˌɡʁaɪ̯fn̩/

verb C1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

V Register Neutral Era Current Frequency Academic Domain General Tone Neutral

Forms

present
greift durch
past
griff durch
perfect
hat durchgegriffen

Meaning

  1. to take drastic action

    Built from durch (through) + greifen (to grip).

    • Die Polizei muss hart durchgreifen.

      The police must take firm action.

    • Die neue Direktorin will endlich durchgreifen. Es gibt zu viele Regelverstöße.

      The new headmistress finally wants to take drastic action. There are too many rule violations.

V Category Action Concreteness Concrete Agency Voluntary Duration Durative Transitivity Transitive

Made of

  • durch through
  • greifen to grip

Practice

1 What does durchgreifen mean?

2 Fill the gap: Die Polizei muss hart ___.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches durchgreifen?

verbseparablecompound

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