sich Asche aufs Haupt streuen
Appearance
German
[edit]Etymology
[edit]Literally, “to sprinkle ash on one's head”, from the Middle Eastern and thence Christian custom of sprinkling dust on one's head as a sign of penitence.
Verb
[edit]sich Asche aufs Haupt streuen (weak, third-person singular present streut sich Asche aufs Haupt, past tense streute sich Asche aufs Haupt, past participle sich Asche aufs Haupt gestreut, auxiliary haben)
- (dative reflexive, idiomatic) to wear sackcloth and ashes
Conjugation
[edit]1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Related terms
[edit]Further reading
[edit]- “sich Asche aufs Haupt streuen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache