seine Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen
to secure one's own profit/advantage (often before things go bad)
Origin
The origin is disputed; attested since 1576, the phrase is usually read agriculturally: sheep on wet pastures were prone to disease, so the farmer brought his 'little sheep onto dry ground'. A less accepted reading derives 'Schäfchen' from Low German 'Schepken' (little ship).
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Simple past 'wollte' (wanted to, from wollen)Präteritum 'wollte' (wollen)
- Simple past 'mochte' (liked, from mögen)Präteritum 'mochte' (mögen)
- Subordinate clause with 'dass' (that)Nebensatz mit 'dass'
- Future I with 'werden' + infinitiveFutur I mit 'werden' + Infinitiv
- 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
Bevor die pleiteging, hatte der seine Schäfchen Trockene gebracht.
Before the company went bankrupt, the boss had long since feathered his own nest.