die
Reißleine
🎯 What exactly is a 'Reißleine'?
The word die Reißleine has two main meanings:
- Literal Meaning: A cord or line that is pulled to trigger a mechanism, usually in an emergency situation. The most famous example is the Reißleine of a parachute, which causes it to open. It's also found on emergency brakes or other safety devices.
- Figurative Meaning: In a figurative sense, "die Reißleine ziehen" (to pull the ripcord) means to abruptly end a project, relationship, or venture, often as a last resort to prevent greater damage or loss. It's like hitting the emergency brake in a metaphorical sense. 🚨
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Declining 'die Reißleine'
The noun „Reißleine“ is feminine. The article is die.
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | eine | Reißleine |
| Genitive | der | einer | Reißleine |
| Dative | der | einer | Reißleine |
| Accusative | die | eine | Reißleine |
| Case | Definite Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Reißleinen |
| Genitive | der | Reißleinen |
| Dative | den | Reißleinen |
| Accusative | die | Reißleinen |
Example Sentences
- Der Fallschirmspringer zog mutig die Reißleine. (The parachutist bravely pulled the ripcord.) [Literal]
- Als das Projektbudget explodierte, musste das Management die Reißleine ziehen. (When the project budget exploded, management had to pull the plug.) [Figurative]
- Die Maschine hat eine rote Reißleine für den Notstopp. (The machine has a red ripcord for the emergency stop.) [Literal]
- Nach monatelangem Streit zogen sie in ihrer Beziehung die Reißleine. (After months of arguments, they ended their relationship abruptly.) [Figurative]
💡 How to Use 'die Reißleine'?
Usage strongly depends on the context:
- Technology & Safety: In the literal sense, 'die Reißleine' is used for parachutes, life rafts, emergency brake systems on trains or machines. It always involves triggering a (often life-saving) mechanism by pulling.
- Figurative Meaning (Idiom): The phrase "die Reißleine ziehen" (literally: 'to pull the ripcord') is very common. It describes ending a difficult or hopeless situation before it gets worse. You stop something abruptly. Examples: cancelling a project, ending a partnership, pulling out of a deal.
⚠️ Don't confuse it with a simple 'Leine' (line) or 'Schnur' (string). 'Die Reißleine' implies a triggering function through ripping or pulling.
🧠 Mnemonics for 'Reißleine'
Article Mnemonic: Think of die Leine (the line), which you reißen (rip/pull) – that gives you die Reißleine. Many German nouns ending in "-leine" are feminine (die).
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you rip (reißen) a line (Leine) to trigger something important – either a parachute (literally) or a stop (figuratively).
↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Words)
- Literal: Aufziehleine (parachute deployment line), Notleine (emergency cord), Notbremse (emergency brake), Auslöseleine (trigger line)
- Figurative (for "die Reißleine ziehen"): die Notbremse ziehen (to pull the emergency brake), einen Schlussstrich ziehen (to draw a line under sth.), abbrechen (to abort, break off), stoppen (to stop), aufgeben (to give up), (einem Projekt) den Stecker ziehen (to pull the plug on a project)
Antonyms (Opposite Words)
- Figurative (Opposite of "die Reißleine ziehen"): weitermachen (to continue), fortfahren (to proceed), durchhalten (to persevere), dranbleiben (to stick with it), fortsetzen (to continue, resume)
Similar but potentially misleading words: Leine (line, general), Seil (rope), Schnur (string, cord) - these lack the specific trigger function.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Programmierer die Reißleine gezogen?
Weil er zu viele Endlosschleifen hatte und einen Absturz verhindern wollte!
Translation: Why did the programmer pull the ripcord? Because he had too many infinite loops and wanted to prevent a crash!
✍️ Poem about the 'Reißleine'
Hoch am Himmel, weit und breit,
Ein Punkt fällt durch die Einsamkeit.
Die Erde naht, die Angst wird groß,
Ein Ruck – er zog die Reißlein' bloß!
Der Schirm sich öffnet, sanft und weit,
Gerettet für die Ewigkeit.
Translation:
High in the sky, far and wide,
A dot falls through the lonely tide.
The earth approaches, fear takes hold,
A tug – he pulled the ripcord bold!
The chute opens, gentle and vast,
Saved for eternity, unsurpassed.
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin eine Leine, doch nicht zum Wäschelein.
Zieht man an mir, kann's Rettung sein.
Mal öffne ich Schirme hoch in der Luft,
Mal stoppe ich Projekte jäh aus der Gruft.
Wer bin ich?
Translation:
I am a line, but not for laundry day.
If you pull me, rescue might be on the way.
Sometimes I open chutes high in the air,
Sometimes I stop projects abruptly from despair.
What am I?
Solution: Die Reißleine (The ripcord)
⚙️ Other Details
Word Composition:
The word "Reißleine" is a compound noun, composed of:
- reißen: to pull strongly, to tear, to rip.
- die Leine: the line, cord, or rope.
So, the composition directly describes its function: a line that you rip or pull (reißen) to trigger something.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Reißleine?
The correct article for the word Reißleine is die. It is a feminine noun with both a literal meaning (e.g., for a parachute) and a figurative meaning (to end something abruptly).