German

edit
 
German Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia de

Etymology

edit

From Middle High German versengelt geben. The original context of this idiom is unknown. It has as well been related to Färse and not Ferse.

Pronunciation

edit
  • IPA(key): /ˈfɛʁzənˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbən/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

edit

Fersengeld geben (class 5 strong, third-person singular present gibt Fersengeld, past tense gab Fersengeld, past participle Fersengeld gegeben, past subjunctive gäbe Fersengeld, auxiliary haben)

  1. (intransitive, idiomatic) to flee, to leave, to skedaddle
    • 2019 March 4, Jens Reichenbach, “Frevel: Einbrecher steigen in Bielefelder Sparrenburg ein”, in Neue Westfälische[1]:
      Ohne Beute mussten die Täter Fersengeld geben.
      Without booty the miscreants had to leave.

Conjugation

edit

Further reading

edit