Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'wrest'

English Word: wrest

Key Russian Translations:

• вырвать [vɨrˈvatʲ] - [Informal, often used in physical or forceful contexts]
• забрать силой [zəˈbratʲ sɪˈloj] - [Formal, implies authority or legal force]
• отобрать [ɐtɐˈbratʲ] - [Neutral, common in everyday situations]

Frequency: Medium (This verb and its equivalents are not among the most common in daily conversation but appear frequently in narratives, legal contexts, or action descriptions.)

Difficulty: B1 (Intermediate, based on CEFR; requires understanding of verb conjugations and perfective aspects in Russian. For 'вырвать', it's B1; for 'забрать силой', it may be A2 if simplified.)

Pronunciation (Russian):

вырвать: [vɨrˈvatʲ] (Stress on the second syllable; the 'ы' sound is a back unrounded vowel, which can be tricky for English speakers.)

забрать силой: [zəˈbratʲ sɪˈloj] (The 'з' is voiced, and 'си' has a soft 's' sound; practice the rolling 'р' if present in variants.)

Note on вырвать: This word has a perfective aspect, meaning it's used for completed actions; be cautious with the vowel shift in fast speech.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

To forcibly pull something from someone's grasp

Translation(s) & Context:

• вырвать - Used in physical struggles or emotional conflicts, such as in sports or arguments (e.g., in informal storytelling).
• забрать силой - Applied in formal or legal scenarios, like repossessing property, emphasizing authority over brute force.

Usage Examples:

• Он вырвал сумку из рук вора во время погони.

  He wrested the bag from the thief's hands during the chase.

• В суде адвокат забирал силой документы, чтобы защитить клиента.

  In court, the lawyer wrested the documents by force to protect his client.

• Дети часто отбирают игрушки друг у друга, но это не всегда вырывается с силой.

  Children often wrest toys from each other, but it's not always done with force.

• Во время драки, она вырвала ключ из его хватки, спасая себя.

  During the fight, she wrested the key from his grasp, saving herself.

• Полиция забрала силой оружие у преступника в ходе операции.

  The police wrested the weapon from the criminal during the operation.

To metaphorically seize control or power

Translation(s) & Context:

• отобрать - Common in metaphorical senses, like in politics or business, without implying violence.
• вырвать - Less common metaphorically, but used for dramatic effect in literature.

Usage Examples:

• Лидер оппозиции вырвал власть у коррумпированного режима.

  The opposition leader wrested power from the corrupt regime.

• Менеджер отобрал проект у некомпетентной команды, чтобы спасти сроки.

  The manager wrested the project from the incompetent team to meet deadlines.

• В переговорах они забрали силой преимущество, используя хитрые тактики.

  In negotiations, they wrested the advantage by using cunning tactics.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

'Вырвать' and 'отобрать' are perfective verbs, while 'забрать' can be imperfective in some contexts. Russian verbs inflect based on tense, aspect, person, and number. Here's a breakdown:

Note: These verbs follow regular conjugation patterns for first conjugation verbs. 'Вырвать' is irregular in its stem changes and is aspectually perfective, meaning it denotes a completed action.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms: отнять [ɐtˈnatʲ] (to take away, similar but more neutral); выхватить [vɨxvaˈtʲ] (to snatch quickly)
• Antonyms: отдать [ɐtˈdatʲ] (to give away); вернуть [vɨzˈnutʲ] (to return)

Brief note: 'Отнять' is often interchangeable with 'вырвать' in casual speech but implies less force; 'отдать' is the direct opposite in contexts of relinquishing control.

Related Phrases:

• Вырвать из рук [vɨrˈvatʲ iz ruk] - To wrest from hands; used literally in physical altercations.
• Забрать силой у кого-то [zəˈbratʲ sɪˈloj u kɐˈvo-ta] - To wrest something by force from someone; common in legal or dramatic narratives.
• Отобрать власть [ɐtɐˈbratʲ vlasʲtʲ] - To wrest power; metaphorical for political takeovers, with a connotation of legitimacy.

Usage Notes:

Russian equivalents of 'wrest' emphasize the perfective aspect, focusing on the completion of the action, unlike English which can be more neutral. Choose 'вырвать' for informal, physical scenarios to convey immediacy, while 'забрать силой' suits formal contexts like law enforcement. Be mindful of gender agreement in past tense conjugations, as Russian verbs change based on the subject's gender. When multiple translations exist, opt for 'отобрать' in everyday speech for its versatility, but avoid it in highly emotional contexts where 'вырвать' adds drama.

Common Errors:

• Error: Using the imperfective form incorrectly, e.g., saying "вырывать" instead of "вырвать" for a completed action. Correct: "Он вырвал" (He wrested) vs. Incorrect: "Он вырывал" (which implies ongoing action, not fitting for 'wrest'). Explanation: Russian requires matching verb aspects to the context; perfective is needed here.
• Error: Forgetting gender agreement, e.g., "Она вырвал" instead of "Она вырвала". Correct: Always adjust the past tense ending based on the subject's gender to avoid grammatical errors.
• Error: Overusing 'забрать силой' in casual talk, which can sound overly formal or aggressive. Correct: Use 'отобрать' for neutral situations; this prevents sounding unnatural in everyday conversation.

Cultural Notes:

In Russian culture, verbs like 'вырвать' often appear in literature and folklore, such as in tales of heroes wresting treasures from villains, reflecting themes of struggle and resilience. This ties into Russia's historical narratives of revolution and resistance, where 'wresting' power symbolizes national identity and determination.

Related Concepts:

• бороться [bɐˈrotʲsə]
• схватить [sxvaˈtʲitʲ]
• защитить [zəʐɨˈʂitʲitʲ]