Fersengeld geben

German

Etymology

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

• IPA^(key): [ˈfɛɐ̯zənˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbən], [ˈfɛɐ̯zn̩ˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbn̩], [ˈfɛrzənˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbən], [ˈfɛrzn̩ˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbn̩], [ˈfɛʁzənˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbən], [ˈfɛʁzn̩ˌɡɛlt ˈɡeːbn̩]

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

Fersengeld geben (weak, third-person singular present Fersengeld gebt, past tense Fersengeld gebte, past participle Fersengeld gegebt, auxiliary haben)

1. 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

See geben.