ins Gras beißen

to bite the dust; to die

Origin

An old image for dying, already in ancient poetry: the warrior falling in battle bites the earth or the grass as he dies; attested in German for centuries.

Source

Building blocks

Words in this expression

beißen· to bite das Ende· end der Film· film das Gras· grass der Held· hero ins· into the leider· unfortunately

Grammar that uses this word

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?
Position of object pronounsStellung der Objektpronomen
Reflexive verbs (sich freuen, sich waschen)Reflexive Verben (sich freuen, sich waschen)
Genitive preposition 'infolge' (as a result of)Genitivpräposition 'infolge'
Literary participial constructionsLiterarische Partizipialkonstruktionen

Examples

Im muss am der .
Sadly, in the film the hero has to bite the dust in the end.