ab|schleifen
Translation
to sand down, to grind off, to abrade, to polish
Examples
Er muss die alte Farbe abschleifen.
He has to sand off the old paint.
Die Kanten des Tisches sind abgeschliffen.
The edges of the table are worn down.
Grammar Patterns
to sand sth. down et4 abschleifen You have to sand the wood down before painting.
Similar Words
polieren (to polish), glätten (to smooth)
Etymology
A separable verb from 'ab-' (off, down) and 'schleifen' (to grind, polish). Literally 'to grind off'.
Memory Tips
Imagine using sandpaper to 'schleifen' (grind) a layer 'ab' (off) a surface.