Verb

kurz|schließen

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)

Composed of 'kurz' (short) and 'schließen' (to close, connect). The idea is 'closing' a circuit via a 'short' path.

Visualize a 'short' wire 'closing' a connection where it shouldn't, causing a short-circuit. This idea of a shortcut also applies to the figurative meaning of jumping to conclusions.

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