zuschlagen

Zuschlagen is a German verb with several related meanings, depending on context. It can describe a physical action, such as closing something forcefully, as in die Tür schlägt zu (the door slams shut). It also has a figurative sense of acting quickly to seize an opportunity or to buy something, for example beim Ausverkauf zuschlagen (to snap it up). In sports or combat, zuschlagen can mean to land a blow or to strike, as in der Boxer schlägt zu (the boxer lands a punch).

Grammatical note: zuschlagen is a separable-prefix verb. In the present tense the prefix is separated: ich schlage zu, du schlägst zu, er schlägt zu. The past tense can be schlug zu; the perfect is habe zugeschlagen. For the door sentence you typically say die Tür schlägt zu; for purchases you can say ich habe zugeschlagen.

Usage and nuance: The expression eine Gelegenheit nutzen is a common paraphrase of zuschlagen. Beim Ausverkauf sollte man zuschlagen, conveys urgency but not violence; der Boxer schlägt zu is literal fighting language.

Etymology and related terms: The verb combines zu- with schlagen, originally indicating closing by striking. Related terms include zugreifen (to seize), and der Zuschlag, a noun with its own meanings such as surcharge or the winning bid in auctions.