expired / worn down
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expired
When the best-before date of a food or medicine has passed and it should no longer be used.
Der Joghurt ist seit einer Woche abgelaufen, ich würde ihn nicht mehr essen.
The yogurt expired a week ago; I wouldn't eat it anymore.
expired
When the period of validity of a document, contract, or deadline has ended.
Ihr Reisepass ist leider schon abgelaufen, Sie können damit nicht mehr reisen.
Unfortunately, your passport has already expired; you can no longer travel with it.
worn down
When the soles of shoes are badly worn down from being worn for a long time.
Nach der langen Wanderung waren meine Schuhe an den Fersen komplett abgelaufen.
After the long hike, my shoes were completely worn down at the heels.
'Abgelaufen' (expired / worn down) is the past participle of the separable verb 'ablaufen'. It describes a state that has occurred after a time period or deadline has 'abgelaufen' (expired, i.e. come to an end).
Die Frist für die Bewerbung ist gestern abgelaufen.
The application deadline expired yesterday.
The noun described by 'abgelaufen' determines the exact meaning. Does it refer to food, a document, or shoes?
Diese Milch ist abgelaufen, sie riecht schon komisch.
This milk has expired; it already smells strange.
'Abgelaufen' is usually used predicatively with the verb 'sein' (to be). The structure is: subject + ist/war + abgelaufen.
Der Vertrag ist letzten Monat abgelaufen.
The contract expired last month.
In connection with food, people often talk about the 'Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum' (best-before date). When this date has passed, the product is 'abgelaufen' (expired).
Das Mindesthaltbarkeitsdatum ist abgelaufen, aber der Käse sieht noch gut aus.
The best-before date has expired, but the cheese still looks good.
past
When referring to a period of time, “vergangen” generally says that the period is now behind us. “Abgelaufen” is used when a fixed deadline or period of validity has come to an end. After three weeks, time may simply have passed; an expired application deadline, on the other hand, is no longer valid.
Nach drei Wochen ist die Bewerbungsfrist abgelaufen.
After three weeks, the application deadline has expired.
Seit unserem Gespräch sind drei Wochen vergangen.
Three weeks have passed since our conversation.
