raushalten

Raushalten is a colloquial German verb meaning to keep out or to refrain from involvement in a matter. It is built from raus, a spoken form of hinaus (out), and halten (to hold). In standard language the related form is heraushalten, or the reflexive sich aus einer Sache heraushalten.

Usage and senses. The expression can denote keeping someone out of a situation or preventing participation. For example: Ich halte dich aus dem Streit heraus. (I’m keeping you out of the dispute.) The reflexive form means to refrain from involvement oneself: Ich halte mich aus der Debatte heraus. The imperative H alt dich raus! or Haltet euch raus! is common in colloquial speech.

Etymology and variants. Raushalten derives from raus (out) plus halten (to hold). In more formal writing one would normally use heraushalten or sich aus etwas heraushalten. The phrase can also appear with different objects, as in jemanden aus einer Angelegenheit heraushalten.

Nuance. The term is informal and often signals setting boundaries or avoiding responsibility. It can express a request or command to stay uninvolved, rather than a formal legal or procedural stance.

See also. Sich aus etwas heraushalten; heraushalten; außen vor bleiben. English equivalents include keep out, stay out, refrain from involvement.