In 15 Seconds
- Using your power or connections to achieve a specific goal.
- A formal way to describe pulling strings or using 'Vitamin B'.
- Common in business, politics, and high-stakes professional situations.
Meaning
This phrase is about using your power, status, or connections to make sure something happens the way you want it to. It is like pulling strings behind the scenes to get a specific result.
Key Examples
3 of 6A CEO helping a project get approved
Der Chef musste seinen ganzen Einfluss geltend machen, um das Projekt zu retten.
The boss had to exert all his influence to save the project.
Asking a well-connected friend for help
Kannst du bei der Stadtverwaltung deinen Einfluss geltend machen?
Can you exert your influence with the city administration?
Discussing international politics
Die Regierung versucht, ihren Einfluss in der Region geltend zu machen.
The government is trying to exert its influence in the region.
Cultural Background
The term 'Vitamin B' (Beziehungen) is the informal counterpart. While 'Einfluss geltend machen' sounds professional, it often describes the same underlying social mechanism of using who you know to get ahead. In Austria, the 'Freunderlwirtschaft' (economy of friends) is a similar concept. Using influence is often seen as a necessary part of navigating the dense social and political networks of Vienna. Swiss culture values discretion. 'Einfluss geltend machen' happens very quietly, often in private clubs or local 'Zünfte' (guilds), rather than through loud public lobbying. In the context of the EU, this phrase is the bread and butter of political reporting. It describes how member states or interest groups try to steer legislation.
Use with 'massiv'
In news reports, you almost always see 'massiven Einfluss geltend machen'. It adds weight to your sentence.
Don't use for 'persuade'
If you are just convincing your mom to cook pasta, don't use this. It's too formal.
In 15 Seconds
- Using your power or connections to achieve a specific goal.
- A formal way to describe pulling strings or using 'Vitamin B'.
- Common in business, politics, and high-stakes professional situations.
What It Means
Imagine you have a secret superpower. This superpower is your reputation or your network. When you use this phrase, you are deciding to stop being a passive observer. You are stepping in to tip the scales in your favor. It is not just about 'having' influence. It is about actively applying it to a situation. Think of it as the professional way to say you are pulling strings.
How To Use It
You will usually see this phrase with the possessive pronoun seinen (his/its) or ihren (her/their). The verb machen stays at the end in many sentence structures. It sounds very official and deliberate. You don't just 'do' it by accident. You make a conscious choice to exert your weight. It is a heavy-hitting expression for serious situations.
When To Use It
Use this in professional or political contexts. It is perfect for a meeting when a decision is stuck. You might use it when talking about a lobbyist or a powerful CEO. It also works when you are asking someone with more power to help you out. If you know the owner of a fully booked restaurant, you might ask a friend to Einfluss geltend machen to get a table. It implies you have some 'Vitamin B' (connections) to use.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this for tiny, everyday things. Don't say you'll exert influence to decide which movie to watch with your partner. It sounds way too dramatic and slightly robotic. Also, be careful because it can sound a bit manipulative. If you use it too often, people might think you are a bit of a power-tripper. Stick to situations where formal authority or significant connections actually matter.
Cultural Background
Germany has a reputation for strict rules and bureaucracy. However, there is a concept called 'Vitamin B' (B for 'Beziehungen' or relationships). This phrase is the formal linguistic bridge to that concept. It is how people politely describe using their network to bypass the usual red tape. It reflects a culture that values both formal structure and the power of established trust.
Common Variations
You might hear seinen Einfluss spielen lassen. This is a bit more 'playful' and means 'to let one's influence play.' Another one is Druck ausüben, which means 'to exert pressure.' That one is much more aggressive. Einfluss geltend machen is the sophisticated, slightly more polite cousin of these terms. It sounds like something a diplomat would say while drinking expensive coffee.
Usage Notes
This is a high-level (B2+) collocation. It belongs to the 'Bildungssprache' (educated language) and is most at home in professional, political, or legal contexts.
Use with 'massiv'
In news reports, you almost always see 'massiven Einfluss geltend machen'. It adds weight to your sentence.
Don't use for 'persuade'
If you are just convincing your mom to cook pasta, don't use this. It's too formal.
Vitamin B
Remember that this is the 'polite' way to talk about using your connections.
Examples
6Der Chef musste seinen ganzen Einfluss geltend machen, um das Projekt zu retten.
The boss had to exert all his influence to save the project.
Shows the phrase used in a high-stakes corporate environment.
Kannst du bei der Stadtverwaltung deinen Einfluss geltend machen?
Can you exert your influence with the city administration?
A request for a favor using someone's connections.
Die Regierung versucht, ihren Einfluss in der Region geltend zu machen.
The government is trying to exert its influence in the region.
Very standard usage in political journalism.
Ich werde meinen Einfluss als Stammkunde geltend machen und uns Popcorn besorgen.
I will exert my influence as a regular and get us some popcorn.
Using a heavy phrase for a trivial task creates humor.
Ich hoffe, dein Mentor macht seinen Einfluss für dich geltend.
I hope your mentor exerts his influence for you.
Used in a supportive way regarding career growth.
Es ist unfair, wenn Leute nur ihren Einfluss geltend machen, um Regeln zu umgehen.
It's unfair when people only exert their influence to bypass rules.
Highlights the potentially negative perception of the action.
Test Yourself
Füllen Sie die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'Einfluss geltend machen'.
Der {der|m} Lobbyist versuchte, seinen __________ bei der {die|f} EU-Kommission __________ __________.
In an infinitive construction with 'versuchen', we use 'zu' + infinitive.
Welcher Satz ist grammatikalisch richtig?
A) Er macht seinen Einfluss geltend. B) Er tut seinen Einfluss geltend. C) Er macht seinen Einfluss gültig. D) Er gibt seinen Einfluss geltend.
'Geltend machen' is a fixed collocation. 'Tun' or 'gültig' are incorrect in this context.
Verbinden Sie die Begriffe.
1. Einen Anspruch... 2. Einen Einfluss... 3. Beziehungen... 4. Druck...
Both 'Anspruch' and 'Einfluss' use 'geltend machen'. 'Beziehungen' uses 'spielen lassen' and 'Druck' uses 'ausüben'.
Vervollständigen Sie das Gespräch.
A: Wir brauchen dringend diese {die|f} Baugenehmigung. B: Ich kenne jemanden im {das|n} Bauamt. Ich werde mal __________.
This is the standard way to offer help using connections in a professional-sounding way.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDer {der|m} Lobbyist versuchte, seinen __________ bei der {die|f} EU-Kommission __________ __________.
In an infinitive construction with 'versuchen', we use 'zu' + infinitive.
A) Er macht seinen Einfluss geltend. B) Er tut seinen Einfluss geltend. C) Er macht seinen Einfluss gültig. D) Er gibt seinen Einfluss geltend.
'Geltend machen' is a fixed collocation. 'Tun' or 'gültig' are incorrect in this context.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Both 'Anspruch' and 'Einfluss' use 'geltend machen'. 'Beziehungen' uses 'spielen lassen' and 'Druck' uses 'ausüben'.
A: Wir brauchen dringend diese {die|f} Baugenehmigung. B: Ich kenne jemanden im {das|n} Bauamt. Ich werde mal __________.
This is the standard way to offer help using connections in a professional-sounding way.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, it is neutral. It can be negative (corruption) or positive (a mentor helping a student).
It is possible but much less common. 'Einfluss' is the standard partner for 'geltend machen'. For 'Macht', we usually say 'Macht ausüben'.
'Lobbyismus' is the industry/activity. 'Einfluss geltend machen' is the specific action a lobbyist takes.
Only sarcastically. It sounds very clinical and business-like.
Yes, very often in reports: 'Er machte seinen Einfluss geltend.'
Not necessarily, but 'bei' (with/at) or 'auf' (on) are common to show the target.
It functions as part of the verb phrase (Prädikativum).
No, only for social, political, or professional power.
There isn't a direct opposite, but 'sich heraushalten' (to stay out of it) or 'machtlos sein' (to be powerless) are related concepts.
In professional settings, yes. In a pub with friends, no.
Related Phrases
Beziehungen spielen lassen
similarTo use one's connections.
Druck ausüben
similarTo exert pressure.
Einen Anspruch geltend machen
builds onTo assert a legal claim.
Die Fäden ziehen
figurativeTo pull the strings.
