Spendierhosen

German

FWOTD – 11 June 2014

Etymology

From spendieren (“to be generous”) +‎ Hosen (“trousers”). Literally "generosity trousers" or "treating trousers".

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃpɛnˈdiːɐ̯ˌhoːzən/

Noun

Spendierhosen (plural only)

1. (idiomatic) A metaphorical representation of a feeling of generosity; literally “generosity trousers”.

   Er hat heute die Spendierhosen an; er hat mir ein Auto gekauft!

   [literally] He's wearing generosity trousers today; he bought me a car!

   [idiomatically] He's feeling generous today; he bought me a car!

   • 2000 October 20, Die Ärzte, Runter mit den Spendierhosen, Unsichtbarer!

     [literally] Down with your generosity trousers, invisible one!

     [idiomatically] Show what you've got [runter mit den Hosen] / stop being so generous [Spendierhosen], invisible one!

   • 2012 May 16, Zweite Breg-Querung bis Jahresende baureif, Südkurier

     Diese Vorhersage gab die Verwaltung gestern dem Gemeinderat, nachdem das Land überraschend große Spendierhosen angezogen hat.

     [literally] The management gave the local government this prediction yesterday, after the region pulled on some surprisingly big generosity trousers.

     [idiomatically] The management gave the local government this prediction yesterday, after the region offered surprisingly generous funding.

Synonyms

• Spendierbüchsen

Further reading

• “Spendierhosen” in Duden online