durch die Lappen gehen
to slip through one's fingers; to get away
Origin
From hunting (since the 17th c.): in "lapp-hunting" hunters hung cloth flaps on lines to confine the game; if it escaped anyway, it had "gone through the flaps".
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Adjective declension after the definite article (nom./acc.)Adjektivdeklination nach bestimmtem Artikel (Nom./Akk.)
- Temporal clause with 'bevor' (before)Temporalsatz mit 'bevor'
- Passive with 'von' (by) and 'durch' (through)Passiv mit 'von' und 'durch'
- Participle I as an adjectivePartizip I als Adjektiv
- Two-way prepositions with accusative (Wohin? / where to)Wechselpräpositionen mit Akkusativ (Wohin?)
- Two-way prepositions contrast: Wo? vs. Wohin? (where vs. where to)Wechselpräpositionen Kontrast: Wo? vs. Wohin?
Examples
Die günstige ist die Lappen gegangen.
Unfortunately the cheap flat slipped through my fingers.