Verb

ran|gehen

to answer (the phone), to tackle, to approach

Geh du bitte ans Telefon ran.

Please answer the phone.

Wir müssen das Problem jetzt rangehen.

We have to tackle the problem now.

Er traut sich nicht, an sie ranzugehen.

He doesn't dare to approach her.

((an+4)) rangehen to approach sth./sb. He doesn't dare to approach her.

((an+4)) rangehen to tackle sth. We have to tackle the problem now.

sich nähern, anpacken, beginnen

From the prefix ran- (short for heran-, 'towards') + gehen ('to go'). Literally 'to go towards'.

Imagine you have to 'run' to 'go' ('gehen') and answer the phone or tackle a problem. The sound 'ran' is similar to 'run'.

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