المعنى
To completely fail or ruin a project or attempt.
خلفية ثقافية
In Germany, 'in {den|m} Sand setzen' is often used by the press to criticize government spending, especially on large infrastructure projects like the BER airport. Austrians use this phrase similarly, but might also use 'etwas verhauen' or 'etwas versemmeln' in casual speech. In Swiss German, you might hear 'etwas an {den|m} Charre fahre' (to drive something against the cart), which is a local variation of failure. In German corporate culture, admitting you 'set something in the sand' is seen as a blunt but honest way to take responsibility for a failure.
Use it for money
This is the most common idiom for talking about wasted money in German news.
Case matters
Always use 'den' (Accusative). 'In dem Sand' is a literal location, not the idiom.
المعنى
To completely fail or ruin a project or attempt.
Use it for money
This is the most common idiom for talking about wasted money in German news.
Case matters
Always use 'den' (Accusative). 'In dem Sand' is a literal location, not the idiom.
Combine with 'total'
Germans love to say 'total in {den|m} Sand gesetzt' to emphasize the failure.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Ich habe {die|f} Prüfung total in ___ ___ gesetzt.
The idiom is 'in den Sand setzen' (Accusative).
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Wann sagt man: 'Er hat es in {den|m} Sand gesetzt'?
The idiom means to fail or ruin a project.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Wie war dein {das|n} Vorstellungsgespräch?' B: 'Nicht gut. Ich habe es ___ ___ ___ ___.'
This is the most natural way to describe a failed interview.
Match the idiom to the result.
Match: 'Geld in {den|m} Sand setzen' with...
Setting money in the sand means losing it (Verlust).
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينIch habe {die|f} Prüfung total in ___ ___ gesetzt.
The idiom is 'in den Sand setzen' (Accusative).
Wann sagt man: 'Er hat es in {den|m} Sand gesetzt'?
The idiom means to fail or ruin a project.
A: 'Wie war dein {das|n} Vorstellungsgespräch?' B: 'Nicht gut. Ich habe es ___ ___ ___ ___.'
This is the most natural way to describe a failed interview.
Match: 'Geld in {den|m} Sand setzen' with...
Setting money in the sand means losing it (Verlust).
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
4 أسئلةNo, but it is informal. It's fine for friends and colleagues, but maybe too blunt for a CEO.
No, you set 'things' (projects, exams, money) in the sand, not people.
You could say 'etwas zum Erfolg führen' (to lead something to success).
Literally yes (I sat down in the sand), but it doesn't mean 'I failed'.
عبارات ذات صلة
etwas gegen {die|f} Wand fahren
similarTo drive something against the wall.
im Sande verlaufen
similarTo fizzle out.
etwas vermasseln
synonymTo mess something up.
Schiffbruch erleiden
similarTo suffer a shipwreck.
