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hängenlassen

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

German

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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hängen +‎ lassen.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /ˈhɛŋənˌlasn̩/
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

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hängenlassen (class 7 strong, third-person singular present lässt hängen, past tense ließ hängen, past participle hängengelassen or (with an infinitive) hängenlassen, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive, figurative) to leave someone high and dry, to hang out to dry
    Synonyms: im Regen stehen lassen, im Stich lassen
    Ich hätte jetzt dringend ihre Hilfe gebraucht, aber sie hat mich einfach hängenlassen.
    I would have needed her help now urgently, but she simply left me high and dry.
  2. (reflexive, also figurative) to loosen up, to lose control or self-discipline
    Ich habe mich total hängenlassen.
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see hängen,‎ lassen.
    Ich habe meine Jacke hängenlassen.
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)

Usage notes

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Conjugation

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Further reading

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