der  Aufschub

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊfˌʃuːp/

🗓️ What does "der Aufschub" mean?

The German noun der Aufschub refers to a delay, postponement, or deferral of an action, decision, or obligation. It means that something scheduled for a specific time is moved to a later point.

It's a masculine noun, so the article is always der.

• Meaning 1: Temporal shift of a deadline or appointment (e.g., Zahlungsaufschub - deferral of payment).
• Meaning 2: Temporary suspension of an action or decision.

🚨 Be careful not to confuse Aufschub (postponement) with Absage (cancellation). An Aufschub reschedules something, while an Absage cancels it entirely.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Aufschub

The noun "Aufschub" is masculine. The plural form ("die Aufschübe") is rare but grammatically correct.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Richter gewährte einen Aufschub der Gerichtsverhandlung.
   (The judge granted a postponement of the court hearing.)
2. Wegen Krankheit bat er um einen Aufschub für die Abgabe seiner Arbeit.
   (Due to illness, he asked for an extension for submitting his paper.)
3. Ein weiterer Aufschub ist leider nicht möglich.
   (Unfortunately, a further postponement is not possible.)
4. Wir brauchen dringend einen Aufschub der Zahlungsfrist.
   (We urgently need a deferral of the payment deadline.)

💡 How to use "Aufschub"

"Aufschub" is mostly used in formal contexts, especially concerning deadlines, appointments, or obligations.

• Law & Administration: A lawyer requests an Aufschub (extension) for filing documents. An authority grants an Aufschub for a deadline.
• Finance: Someone asks for a Zahlungsaufschub (deferral of payment) for a bill or loan.
• Work & Projects: A project manager grants an Aufschub for a project phase due to unexpected problems.
• Personal: Sometimes you grant yourself a little Aufschub before tackling an unpleasant task (procrastination), although this is more colloquial and often has negative connotations (unlike a formally granted Aufschub).

Related terms:

• Verzögerung: General term for something happening later, can also be unintentional. Aufschub is usually a deliberate, often granted, postponement.
• Stundung: Specifically the deferral of a payment obligation.
• Vertagung: Postponement of a meeting or hearing to another date.

🧠 Memory Aids for "der Aufschub"

Article Mnemonic: Think of der Termin (the appointment) that gets postponed. Aufschub is masculine, like der Mann (the man) asking for more time.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Aufschub" sounds a bit like "oof-shoove". Imagine saying "Oof!" because you have to *shoove* (push/postpone) a task further away.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Sounding Words

• Aufbruch: Departure, start (opposite of Aufschub).
• Abschub: Deportation.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der faule Student beim Examen um Aufschub gebeten?

Er wollte seine Prokrastination auf ein höheres Niveau heben! 😄

(Why did the lazy student ask for a postponement for the exam?
He wanted to take his procrastination to the next level!)

📜 Poem about Aufschub

Die Frist rückt nah, die Zeit verrinnt,
ein Dokument, das man nicht find't.
Die Panik steigt, das Herz schlägt schnell,
man braucht ganz dringend, auf der Stell',
nicht Geld, nicht Ruhm, nicht Glück im Spiel,
nur einen Aufschub, das wär' viel!

(The deadline nears, time slips away,
a document one can't display.
Panic rises, the heart beats fast,
one urgently needs, it has to last,
not money, fame, nor lucky dice,
just a postponement, that'd be nice!)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin kein Stopp, doch halte auf,
verläng're manchen Lebenslauf.
Mal bin ich Gnade, mal nur Zwang,
verschiebe Pflichten, kurz und lang.
Man bittet drum, wenn's knapp wird sehr.
Was bin ich wohl? Die Antwort, her!

(I'm not a stop, but I hold things up,
extend the course for some life's cup.
Sometimes I'm mercy, sometimes constraint,
I shift duties, short and faint.
One asks for me when things get tight.
What am I? Tell me, shed some light!)

Solution: Der Aufschub (The postponement/deferral)

➕ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Aufschub" is a noun derived from the verb "aufschieben" (to postpone, to push open). It consists of the prefix "auf-" and the noun stem "Schub" (related to "schieben" - to push, shove). The meaning comes directly from the action of 'pushing off' or postponing.

Common Collocations:

• einen Aufschub gewähren (to grant a postponement)
• um Aufschub bitten (to ask for a postponement)
• Aufschub erhalten (to receive a postponement)
• kurzer / langer Aufschub (short / long postponement)
• Zahlungsaufschub (deferral of payment)
• ohne weiteren Aufschub (without further delay)