In 15 Seconds
- To leave a place quickly or secretly without being noticed.
- A reflexive phrase used for quiet exits or avoiding situations.
- Commonly used for parties, boring meetings, or escaping awkward moments.
Meaning
This phrase describes the act of leaving a place quickly, quietly, or secretly. It is like slipping out the back door when you want to avoid a long goodbye or a difficult situation.
Key Examples
3 of 6Leaving a boring party
Die Party war so langweilig, ich habe mich einfach davongemacht.
The party was so boring, I just made off.
A cat running away after a mess
Nachdem die Katze die Vase umgeworfen hatte, machte sie sich schnell davon.
After the cat knocked over the vase, she quickly made off.
Texting a friend about an awkward date
Das Date war schrecklich, ich habe mich nach zehn Minuten davongemacht.
The date was terrible, I made off after ten minutes.
Cultural Background
The 'Polnischer Abgang' (Polish exit) is a well-known social phenomenon where one leaves a party without saying goodbye. 'Sich davonmachen' is the standard verb to describe this act. In Austria, you might hear 'sich schleichen' instead. While 'Schleich di!' can be a rude way to say 'Get lost!', 'sich schleichen' is a common way to describe sneaking away. Swiss German speakers use 'sich dervo mache'. It carries the same meaning of leaving quietly, often to avoid the 'Apéro' (pre-dinner drinks) if one is tired. In German offices, 'sich davonmachen' is often used jokingly among colleagues when someone leaves exactly at 'Feierabend' (end of work day) while others are still busy.
The 'Haben' Rule
Even though you are moving, always use 'haben' in the perfect tense because the verb is reflexive: 'Ich HABE mich davongemacht.'
Don't forget 'sich'!
Without 'sich', the phrase doesn't make sense. It's like saying 'I make away' instead of 'I make myself away'.
In 15 Seconds
- To leave a place quickly or secretly without being noticed.
- A reflexive phrase used for quiet exits or avoiding situations.
- Commonly used for parties, boring meetings, or escaping awkward moments.
What It Means
Imagine you are at a party. It is getting boring. You do not want to say goodbye to everyone. You just slip away quietly. That is sich davonmachen. It implies a bit of sneakiness. It is about leaving before anyone notices. You are making yourself scarce. It is your personal escape button.
How To Use It
This is a reflexive phrase. You must use sich. The verb machen changes based on the person. For example, ich mache mich davon. In the past tense, it becomes er hat sich davongemacht. It is very flexible. You can use it for yourself or others. Just remember the reflexive pronoun matches the subject. It is simple but effective.
When To Use It
Use it when you leave a boring meeting early. Use it if you see your ex at the supermarket. It is perfect for telling a friend you left a party. You can use it when a cat runs away after knocking over a vase. It fits any situation involving a quick exit. It feels lighthearted and a bit mischievous.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use it for official departures. You do not sich davonmachen from an airport gate. Avoid it in very tragic contexts. If someone leaves a partner, this sounds too casual. It is not for formal announcements. Do not say it to your boss during a performance review. It sounds like you are running away from responsibility.
Cultural Background
Germans value directness, but they also love a quiet exit. There is a concept called Polnischer Abgang. This means leaving a party without saying goodbye. Sich davonmachen is the verb for that action. It captures that universal feeling of wanting to vanish. It has been used in German literature for centuries. It suggests a clever, quick-witted escape.
Common Variations
A common alternative is sich aus dem Staub machen. This literally means 'to make oneself out of the dust'. It is slightly more dramatic. Another one is abhauen, which is much more blunt. Sich verdrücken is also very similar. Use sich davonmachen when you want to sound natural but not rude.
Usage Notes
The phrase is firmly in the informal register. It is reflexive, so always ensure the pronoun matches the subject (mich, dich, sich, etc.). It is often used to describe avoiding social obligations.
The 'Haben' Rule
Even though you are moving, always use 'haben' in the perfect tense because the verb is reflexive: 'Ich HABE mich davongemacht.'
Don't forget 'sich'!
Without 'sich', the phrase doesn't make sense. It's like saying 'I make away' instead of 'I make myself away'.
The 'Polish Exit'
If you want to sound like a native, use this phrase when talking about leaving a party without saying goodbye.
Separable Verb
Remember that 'davon' goes to the end of the sentence in the present tense: 'Ich mache mich jetzt DAVON.'
Examples
6Die Party war so langweilig, ich habe mich einfach davongemacht.
The party was so boring, I just made off.
A classic use for leaving a social event without saying goodbye.
Nachdem die Katze die Vase umgeworfen hatte, machte sie sich schnell davon.
After the cat knocked over the vase, she quickly made off.
Shows that animals can also 'sich davonmachen'.
Das Date war schrecklich, ich habe mich nach zehn Minuten davongemacht.
The date was terrible, I made off after ten minutes.
Perfect for short, punchy updates to friends.
Als es ans Aufräumen ging, hat er sich klammheimlich davongemacht.
When it was time to clean up, he secretly made off.
The word 'klammheimlich' (secretly) often pairs well with this phrase.
Ich wollte nicht streiten, also habe ich mich einfach davongemacht.
I didn't want to argue, so I just slipped away.
Used here to describe avoiding conflict.
Der Dieb machte sich mit der Beute davon, bevor die Polizei kam.
The thief made off with the loot before the police arrived.
A more literal use involving a crime or theft.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct reflexive pronoun and verb form.
Gestern auf {der|f} Party war es so langweilig. Ich ________ ________ einfach ________.
Since the sentence starts with 'Gestern' (yesterday), you need the perfect tense: 'habe mich davongemacht'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct word order:
With a modal verb (will), the infinitive 'davonmachen' goes to the very end, and the reflexive pronoun 'sich' stays near the subject.
Match the sentence to the situation.
Sentence: 'Der Dieb machte sich mit {der|f} Tasche davon.'
The mention of a 'Dieb' (thief) and 'Tasche' (bag) indicates a theft/crime situation.
Complete the dialogue.
A: 'Wo ist dein Bruder?' B: 'Keine Ahnung. Er ________ ________ ________, als wir mit {dem|n} Putzen anfangen wollten.'
The context of avoiding cleaning (Putzen) in the past requires 'hat sich davongemacht'.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Leaving in German
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGestern auf {der|f} Party war es so langweilig. Ich ________ ________ einfach ________.
Since the sentence starts with 'Gestern' (yesterday), you need the perfect tense: 'habe mich davongemacht'.
Select the correct word order:
With a modal verb (will), the infinitive 'davonmachen' goes to the very end, and the reflexive pronoun 'sich' stays near the subject.
Sentence: 'Der Dieb machte sich mit {der|f} Tasche davon.'
The mention of a 'Dieb' (thief) and 'Tasche' (bag) indicates a theft/crime situation.
A: 'Wo ist dein Bruder?' B: 'Keine Ahnung. Er ________ ________ ________, als wir mit {dem|n} Putzen anfangen wollten.'
The context of avoiding cleaning (Putzen) in the past requires 'hat sich davongemacht'.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsIt can be, depending on the context. It implies you are leaving secretly. If you do it at a formal dinner, it's rude. Among friends, it's often just seen as being tired or 'ghosting'.
No, it's specifically for people or animals. For vehicles, use 'abfahren'.
'Abhauen' is much more informal and can be aggressive (like 'Get lost!'). 'Sich davonmachen' is more about the act of sneaking away quietly.
Use the perfect tense: 'Er hat sich davongemacht.' Note that 'davon' and 'gemacht' are one word.
Yes, it's very common to say 'Der Dieb machte sich mit der Beute davon.'
Rarely in formal writing, but very common in office small talk to describe someone leaving early.
Almost always. It implies that the departure wasn't a big, announced event.
It literally means 'to make oneself away from it'.
No, you must include 'mich'. It is a reflexive verb.
Not directly, but you might talk about 'das Davonmachen', though it's very rare.
It is standard German and used everywhere, though regional alternatives like 'sich schleichen' exist.
Only if you left suddenly or without proper notice. For a normal resignation, use 'kündigen'.
Related Phrases
sich aus dem Staub machen
synonymTo clear out/bolt.
sich verdrücken
synonymTo slip away/scarcen oneself.
abhauen
similarTo beat it/bolt.
sich entfernen
formalTo remove oneself.
verduften
slangTo vanish/scram.
das Weite suchen
idiomTo seek the distance.
