nicht mehr gelten

You use nicht mehr gelten when something’s status changes from valid to invalid. It’s a fixed expression, so you usually put the subject first. For example, Die alte Regel gilt nicht mehr. (The old rule no longer applies). You can also use it with specific timeframes. 'This offer gilt nicht mehr after Friday.' It’s straightforward and widely understood.

• Your train ticket from yesterday? It gilt nicht mehr today. Time to buy a new one!
• The 'early bird' discount code you saw online? Check the fine print. It might nicht mehr gelten.
• A specific law in your country might be repealed. Then, it gilt nicht mehr.
• That 'buy one, get one free' coupon? If it's expired, it gilt nicht mehr.
• The special offer on the streaming service? If the promotion ended, it gilt nicht mehr.

Use nicht mehr gelten for things that have a defined period of validity. This includes tickets, coupons, offers, agreements, and even rules or laws. It’s perfect when you want to state clearly that something is no longer active or binding. Think of it as the official 'game over' for a specific condition. It’s also great for expressing that a previous understanding or agreement is now void. For instance, if you and a friend agreed to split a bill a certain way, but circumstances change, you might say, 'Our old agreement gilt nicht mehr.'

Avoid nicht mehr gelten for things that are permanently invalid or never were. For example, you wouldn't say a mythical creature gilt nicht mehr. It never applied in the first place! Also, don't use it for personal feelings or opinions that have changed. Instead of 'My love for pineapple pizza gilt nicht mehr,' you'd say 'I don't like pineapple pizza anymore.' It’s for official status changes, not personal preferences. And definitely don't use it for something that's just 'old' but still functional. A vintage car gilt – it’s still a car!

• ✗ Das Ticket ist nicht mehr gültig. → ✓ Das Ticket gilt nicht mehr. (While gültig means valid, gelten is the verb that pairs with nicht mehr to form this specific idiom. Gültig is an adjective.)
• ✗ Diese Regel macht nicht mehr Sinn. → ✓ Diese Regel gilt nicht mehr. (Macht Sinn means 'makes sense,' which is different from 'applying' or 'being valid'. A rule can still make sense but no longer apply.)
• ✗ Mein Handy funktioniert nicht mehr. → ✓ Mein Handy gilt nicht mehr. (This is a big one! Funktioniert nicht mehr means 'doesn't work anymore.' Gilt nicht mehr means 'is no longer valid.' Your phone might still work but its contract gilt nicht mehr.)
• ✗ Das Angebot ist nicht mehr aktuell. → ✓ Das Angebot gilt nicht mehr. (Aktuell means 'current.' While related, gilt nicht mehr is more about validity than just being up-to-date. An offer can be current but expired.)

• ungültig sein: This means 'to be invalid.' It's very similar but often used for the state of being invalid rather than the process of becoming invalid. Das Ticket ist ungültig. (The ticket is invalid.)
• abgelaufen sein: This specifically means 'to be expired,' usually for time-sensitive items like food or subscriptions. Mein Abo ist abgelaufen. (My subscription has expired.)
• nicht mehr gültig sein: As mentioned, this is close, but gelten is the idiomatic verb here. Think of gültig as the adjective describing the state that gelten achieves or loses.
• auslaufen: This means 'to expire' or 'to run out,' often used for contracts or deadlines. Der Vertrag läuft aus. (The contract expires.)

• Das gilt nicht mehr. (This doesn't apply anymore.) - A very common, slightly more casual shortening.
• Das gilt schon lange nicht mehr. (That hasn't applied for a long time.) - Emphasizes the duration.
• Das gilt ab sofort nicht mehr. (This no longer applies immediately.) - Stresses the immediate effect.
• Der Preis gilt nicht mehr. (The price no longer applies.) - Specific to pricing or offers.

• What's the main idea? It means something is no longer valid or official. Like a rule that's been cancelled.
• Can I use it for people? Usually not. It's for things like rules, tickets, or agreements, not personal status.
• Is it formal? It's pretty neutral. You can use it in most everyday situations and even in some professional contexts.