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anspannen

tense (a muscle); flex

verb AN-shpan-en Rare
Body & Health Movement

Also means

tighten; hitch up

Usage Note

anspannen in a body context means to deliberately tense or contract a muscle: die Bauchmuskeln anspannen (to tense the abdominal muscles). Contrast with entspannen (to relax). Also used figuratively for mental concentration.

Examples

"Beim Planken muss man die Rumpfmuskulatur fest anspannen."

Natural Translation

When doing a plank you have to tense the core muscles firmly.

Literal Translation

When-the planking must one the trunk-musculature firmly tense.

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