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sich aufziehen

/zɪç ˈaʊ̯fˌt͡siːən/
reflexive verb★Intermediate— to tease or mock someone
informal

To tease or mock someone in a playful or sometimes mean way.

Er zieht mich immer wegen meiner Frisur auf.

He always teases me about my hairstyle.

Sie hat ihn wegen seiner schlechten Witze aufgezogen.

She mocked him for his bad jokes.

💡

This phrase is commonly used in informal contexts among friends or family.

literal

To wind up or tighten something (e.g., a clock or a screw).

Kannst du die Uhr aufziehen?

Can you wind up the clock?

💡

This literal meaning is less common in everyday speech.

Collocations

jemanden aufziehento tease someonesich gegenseitig aufziehento tease each other

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

jemanden hochnehmenphrase
to pull someone's leg
jemanden auf den Arm nehmenphrase
to fool someone

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'sich aufziehen' depends heavily on the context. In most cases, it means to tease, but it can also refer to winding up a mechanism.

⚡Gold Rule

Informal Use

This phrase is primarily used in informal contexts and is not appropriate in formal or professional settings.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the verb 'ziehen' (to pull) and the prefix 'auf-' (up), originally referring to the action of winding up a mechanism.

📝Usage Notes

The phrase is often used in informal settings and can be either playful or mean-spirited depending on the context.

Word Breakdown

sich
reflexive pronoun
prefix
+
auf
up
prefix
+
ziehen
to pull or tease
root
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

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