IdiomDaily Life
German
Germandie Zelte abbrechen
Meaning: to move away or leave a place; to abandon one's position.
Literally: To break apart the tents
Example: “Nach zehn Jahren in der Stadt brachen sie die Zelte ab.” — After ten years in the city, they pulled up stakes.
English equivalent: To pull up stakes
Equivalents in other languages
English: pull up stakes
French: Plier bagage Literally: To fold up baggage
Origin: Nomads, armies and traveling showmen strike their tents when they move on. Seine Zelte abbrechen is leaving a place for good; its opposite is seine Zelte aufschlagen (to pitch one's tents), to settle somewhere. No particular story lies behind it.
More German idioms
- bei der Stange halten to keep someone obedient, loyal, or in line through discipline or pressure.
- keine zehn Pferde nothing could force or move one; obstinate refusal or immovable determination.
- mundtot machen to silence or suppress someone; to rob them of the ability or right to speak.
- wie ein Blinder von der Farbe reden to discuss or explain something one has no direct experience or understanding of; to spea…
- an die Kandare nehmen To restrain, control, or impose discipline on someone.
- die Faxen dicke haben To be fed up; to have had enough of someone's nonsense or misbehavior.
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- Waldeinsamkeit The serene, faintly mystical feeling of being alone in the woods, at peace with nature.
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