sich ins gemachte Nest setzen

to land in a feathered nest; to profit from others' work

Origin

The bird's nest as an image of a cosy environment prepared by others; one profits from others' groundwork or marries into comfort. Attested since the 19th c.

Source

Building blocks

Words in this expression

ins· into the das Nest· nest nichts· nothing setzen· to set

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)
Participle II as an adjectivePartizip II als Adjektiv

Examples

Er hat aufgebaut, sondern sich nur gemachte gesetzt.
He didn't build anything up, he just landed in a feathered nest.