hechten

to dive headfirst; to lunge

verb HEKH-ten Rare

Usage Note

hechten describes throwing oneself forward horizontally, like a goalkeeper diving for a ball or a player making a diving catch. The image is of flying through the air parallel to the ground.

Examples

"Der Torwart hechtete nach rechts und konnte den Ball gerade noch abwehren."

Natural Translation

The goalkeeper dived to the right and just managed to save the ball.

Literal Translation

The goalkeeper dived to-the right and could the ball just still deflect.

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