verb
davonlaufen
run away
Schnell weggehen oder wegrennen, um einer Person, einer Situation oder einem Problem zu entkommen.
Definition & meaning
davonlaufen is a German verb that generally means "to run away" or "to escape." It can be used in two main contexts:
- Physical action: To move away from a person, place, or situation by running, usually to avoid danger, confrontation, or something unpleasant.
- Figurative sense: To try to escape from personal problems, responsibilities, or difficult life circumstances by avoiding them.
- Time: In a metaphorical sense, it can also describe the feeling that time is passing very quickly, or that one is failing to keep up with a deadline (e.g., "Die Zeit läuft mir davon").
Grammar & Word origin
davonlaufen is a separable verb. In a sentence, the prefix davon- is detached from the base verb laufen and moved to the end of the clause.
- Grammar: It is an intransitive verb and uses the auxiliary verb sein to form the perfect tense (er ist davongelaufen).
- Origin: It is a compound word consisting of the adverb davon (meaning "therefrom" or "away") and the verb laufen (meaning "to run").
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- flüchten (to flee)
- weglaufen (to run away)
- entkommen (to escape)
- türmen (colloquial: to bolt/make a run for it)
Antonyms:
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Examples
Manchmal möchte sie einfach davonlaufen.verb
Sometimes she just wants to run away.
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