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German word of the day: Ausgelutscht

The Local Germany
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German word of the day: Ausgelutscht
Photo: depositphotos

Something having been “sucked dry” might sound a bit strange in direct translation. Usually, it is applied when something is regarded as outdated, obsolete or too well-known.

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It does not, however, mean old-fashioned (which would be altmodisch in German), which can also be applied to something nice and retro: “Das ist so schön altmodisch!” No, ausgelutscht is a decidedly negative term, similar to 'stale' in English.

It can not be used as an active verb: auslutschen only literally means to suck something dry, not to overuse a concept or idea.

Many things can be ausgelutscht: a storyline, a musical melody, last year’s fashion trends, a political ideology, or the same lame excuse for being late for appointments.

Berlin natives especially love using ausgelutscht and sometimes pronounce it ausjelutscht. They like to imply: We’ve seen it all. And they have, be it any type of strange art, smashing start-up idea or a political system.

SEE ALSO: How to sound like a Berliner in 10 easy steps

People in the German capital know by experience that this, too, shall pass and, one day, be totally ausgelutscht.

But rumour has it that the Berliners also like using the word because they’re generally a bit more on the grumpy side of life.

Examples:

Er erzählt die gleiche Anekdote immer wieder, bis sie total ausgelutscht ist.

He keeps telling the same anecdote until she's completely tired of it.

Ich mochte den Film, aber die Liebesgeschichte kam mir ein bisschen ausgelutscht vor.

I liked the film, but the love story in it seemed a little old to me.

Erspar mir deine ausgelutschten Entschuldigungen!

Spare me your same old excuses!

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