In 15 Seconds
- A blunt way to say 'I'm leaving' or 'Go away'.
- Derived from old maritime language involving pulling boat ropes.
- Best used with close friends or when very annoyed.
Meaning
Think of this like saying 'beat it' or 'scram' in English. It is a blunt way of telling someone to leave or announcing that you are finally getting out of a place.
Key Examples
3 of 6Leaving a boring party
Die Party ist echt lahm, ich ziehe jetzt Leine.
This party is really lame, I'm taking off now.
Telling an annoying person to leave
Lass mich in Ruhe und zieh Leine!
Leave me alone and beat it!
Texting a friend after work
Endlich Feierabend. Ich zieh Leine, bis morgen!
Finally done for the day. I'm out of here, see you tomorrow!
Cultural Background
The phrase originates from inland navigation. Sailors pulled towlines (Leinen) from the shore to move barges. Today, it reflects the German value of 'Direktheit'—being blunt and skipping the sugar-coating when a situation is over.
Watch your tone
This phrase can range from 'I'm heading out' to 'Get lost'. Your body language and volume change the meaning entirely!
The Sailor Secret
Germans love nautical metaphors. Even if you are in the mountains of Bavaria, you are still 'pulling the towline' when you leave.
In 15 Seconds
- A blunt way to say 'I'm leaving' or 'Go away'.
- Derived from old maritime language involving pulling boat ropes.
- Best used with close friends or when very annoyed.
What It Means
Leine ziehen is a direct, punchy idiom. It literally means to pull a leash. Imagine a dog being led away from a park. It implies a quick, decisive departure. You use it when you are done with a situation. It is not a polite 'goodbye'. It is more like 'I am out of here'.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. Usually, you say Ich ziehe Leine. You can also use it as a command. Zieh Leine! is very common. It sounds sharp and final. Use it when you want to end a conversation. It works well when you are annoyed. It also works when you are joking with close friends.
When To Use It
Use it when a party is getting boring. Use it when you are finished with work. It is perfect for texting a friend. You might say, 'This bar is loud, let's Leine ziehen'. It is great for escaping awkward social moments. Use it when someone is bothering you. It shows you have had enough. It is the verbal version of grabbing your coat.
When NOT To Use It
Never use this with your boss. Do not use it at a funeral. Avoid it during a first date. It is way too rude for formal settings. If you say it to a waiter, you will look mean. It is not for polite 'see you later' moments. If you want to stay friends, be careful. Only use it with people you know well. Or use it with people you never want to see again.
Cultural Background
This phrase has maritime roots. It comes from old shipping days. Sailors would pull the towline to move a boat. Once the line was pulled, the boat moved away. It transitioned from the docks to everyday German life. It captures the German love for directness. It is about efficiency in leaving. No long goodbyes, just action.
Common Variations
You might hear Zieh endlich Leine!. This adds 'finally' for extra spice. Some people say Leine machen. It means the exact same thing. In Berlin, you might hear it with a local accent. The core meaning always stays the same. It is about creating distance quickly. It is a classic piece of German slang.
Usage Notes
This phrase is strictly for informal settings. It carries a sense of finality and can be perceived as aggressive if used as a command toward others.
Watch your tone
This phrase can range from 'I'm heading out' to 'Get lost'. Your body language and volume change the meaning entirely!
The Sailor Secret
Germans love nautical metaphors. Even if you are in the mountains of Bavaria, you are still 'pulling the towline' when you leave.
The 'Endlich' trick
Add `endlich` (finally) to show you have been waiting a long time to leave a boring situation.
Examples
6Die Party ist echt lahm, ich ziehe jetzt Leine.
This party is really lame, I'm taking off now.
A classic way to tell a friend you're bored and leaving.
Lass mich in Ruhe und zieh Leine!
Leave me alone and beat it!
Very direct and borderline aggressive.
Endlich Feierabend. Ich zieh Leine, bis morgen!
Finally done for the day. I'm out of here, see you tomorrow!
Friendly but very informal.
Hast du mein Sandwich gegessen? Zieh Leine, du Dieb!
Did you eat my sandwich? Scram, you thief!
Used playfully between people who are close.
Ich will hier einfach nur Leine ziehen.
I just want to get the hell out of here.
Expressing a strong desire to escape a professional setting.
Zu viele Leute hier, lass uns Leine ziehen.
Too many people here, let's bail.
A collective decision to leave a place.
Test Yourself
You are at a bad movie and want to tell your friend it's time to go.
Der Film ist schrecklich. Lass uns ___ ___!
The phrase `Leine ziehen` is the idiomatic way to say 'let's get out of here'.
Someone is bothering you at the park. How do you tell them to go away?
Verschwinde! ___ ___!
The imperative `Zieh Leine!` is a common command to tell someone to leave you alone.
🎉 Score: /2
Visual Learning Aids
Formality Scale of 'Leine ziehen'
Used with friends or when angry.
Zieh Leine!
Too blunt for strangers.
Ich ziehe Leine.
Never use this here.
N/A
When to pull the leash
Bad Date
Gotta go!
End of Shift
Finally leaving work.
Annoying Sibling
Get out of my room!
Boring Event
Let's find a better bar.
Practice Bank
2 exercisesDer Film ist schrecklich. Lass uns ___ ___!
The phrase `Leine ziehen` is the idiomatic way to say 'let's get out of here'.
Verschwinde! ___ ___!
The imperative `Zieh Leine!` is a common command to tell someone to leave you alone.
🎉 Score: /2
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt can be. If you say Zieh Leine! to a stranger, it is an insult. With friends, it is just very casual.
Only with colleagues you are very close with. Never say it to your boss or in a client meeting like Ich ziehe jetzt Leine.
It comes from shipping. Sailors pulled towlines to move boats away from the shore or docks.
Yes, use Ich mache mich auf den Weg or simply Ich gehe jetzt for a polite exit.
Mostly, but it specifically implies a quick or necessary departure, like 'bailing' on a situation.
It follows the verb ziehen. For example: ich ziehe, du ziehst, er zieht. The word Leine stays the same.
Yes, it is a standard German idiom understood from Hamburg to Munich.
Yes, you can say Er hat endlich Leine gezogen (He finally left/beat it).
It is more of a very informal idiom than 'street slang', but it definitely belongs in the 'very informal' category.
Abhauen is even more informal and can mean 'to run away'. Leine ziehen is specifically about the act of departing.
Related Phrases
Sich aus dem Staub machen (To bolt/make a run for it)
Abhauen (To scram/leave)
Verschwinden (To disappear/get lost)
Sich verdrücken (To sneak away)
Leine machen (Variation of Leine ziehen)
