Kannst du mir sagen, wie man den Staubsauger anmacht?
Can you tell me how to turn on the vacuum-cleaner?Ich habe die Spülmaschine schon angestellt.
I have already turned on the dishwasher.More technical expressions tend to refer to specific types of engines:
Car: Mein Wagen springt einfach nicht an, wenn es kalt ist.
My car simply does not start when it is cold.Aeoroplane: Wir werden in wenigen Minuten die Motoren starten.
We will be starting the engines in a few minutes.(c) Compounds with -los also imply that a process is being started:
los*brechen is usually chosen in connection with bad weather:
Kaum waren wir zu Hause, ist das Gewitter/der Sturm losgebrochen.
We were only just arriving home when the thunderstorm/storm
started.losdüsen/losbrausen implies that a car is being used (colloquial use).
Am Abend bin ich dann nochmal in die Stadt losgedüst/losgebraust.
In the evening I went into town again.los*legen usually refers to somebody starting to talk, possibly scream, or walk very fast
(colloquial use).
Als der Vater nein sagte, hat Otto erst so richtig losgelegt.
When his father said no, Otto really started to complain (vocally).Nach Mitternacht hat das Orchester richtig losgelegt.
After midnight the orchestra really let rip.- Du, ich habe das Neuste aus dem Büro gehört.
- Ja? Dann leg mal los.
- Listen, I’ve heard the latest gossip from the office.
- Really? Then go on, tell me./Spill the beans.
los*machen in the sense of ‘get going’ is colloquial and often used in the form of a
demand.
Nun mach mal los, ich hab es eilig.
Get on with it now, I am in a hurry.los*platzen mit etw. refers to somebody who cannot wait to tell others news or gossip
(colloquial use).
Viele Zeitungen platzen mit Skandalen los, bevor sie die Fakten
recherchiert haben.
Many newspapers blurt out scandals before researching the facts.lostigern and losziehen imply that somebody marches off with a purpose
(colloquial use).
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GIVING/SEEKING INFORMATION