Verb

kurz|schließen

Translation

to short-circuit, to jump to conclusions, to hot-wire

Ein defektes Kabel kann die Elektronik kurzschließen.

A faulty cable can short-circuit the electronics.

Man sollte nicht kurzschließen und voreilige Schlüsse ziehen.

One shouldn't jump to conclusions and draw hasty inferences.

Die Diebe haben das Auto kurzgeschlossen.

The thieves hot-wired the car.

((sth.)) kurzschließen to short-circuit sth. Be careful not to kurzschließen the battery.

((sth.)) kurzschließen to hot-wire sth. He kurzgeschlossen the car to escape.

kurzschließen to jump to conclusions Let's not kurzschließen and assume the worst.

Synonyms (fig.): voreilig urteilen (to judge prematurely), verallgemeinern (to generalize)

From 'kurz' (short) + 'schließen' (to close, connect). It literally means 'to close a short path' for electricity.

Imagine electricity taking a 'short' path to 'close' a circuit. The figurative meaning is similar: taking a mental shortcut to reach a conclusion.