den Löffel abgeben
to kick the bucket; to die
Origin
The spoon stood symbolically for survival and was a personal possession: often self-carved and worn on the belt. When someone died, they "handed over" their spoon or passed it on.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
abgeben· to hand inabgegeben· cast (vote)der Bauer· farmerletzte· lastder Löffel· spoondie Woche· week
Grammar that uses this word
- Indefinite article 'ein' (a/an, masculine, nominative)Unbestimmter Artikel 'ein' (maskulin, Nominativ)
- Plural with no ending (der Lehrer → die Lehrer)Plural ohne Endung
Examples
Der alte hat den .
The old farmer kicked the bucket last week.