to get rid of
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to get rid of
To free oneself from something or someone that is annoying, unnecessary, or unwanted. This can include throwing away objects or completing an unpleasant task.
Er hat sich seiner alten Möbel entledigt, bevor er umgezogen ist.
He got rid of his old furniture before he moved.
This verb is reflexive and requires the genitive. The structure is always: subject + 'sich' (accusative) + object (genitive) + 'entledigen' (to get rid of). This is a special feature, since the genitive as an object is rare.
Endlich konnte er sich dieser unangenehmen Aufgabe entledigen.
At last he was able to get rid of this unpleasant task.
The verb is made up of the prefix 'ent-' (away, remove) and the stem 'ledig' (free, detached). 'Sich entledigen' (to get rid of) therefore literally means to make oneself free from something.
Sie entledigte sich aller alten Briefe, um mit der Vergangenheit abzuschließen.
She got rid of all her old letters in order to put the past behind her.
'Sich entledigen' (to get rid of) belongs to elevated or formal language. It often sounds more final and deliberate than simpler expressions.
Das Unternehmen musste sich des unrentablen Geschäftsbereichs entledigen.
The company had to get rid of the unprofitable business division.
to take care of / to finish
Erledigen focuses on carrying out and completing a task. Sich einer Aufgabe entledigen, by contrast, emphasizes freeing oneself from the bothersome duty, for example by handing it over to someone else or completing it. Entledigen therefore sounds more strongly rejecting.
Nina entledigt sich der lästigen Ablage, indem sie die Aufgabe an einen Dienstleister abgibt.
Nina gets rid of the tedious filing by handing the task over to a service provider.
Nina erledigt die lästige Ablage heute selbst.
Nina takes care of the tedious filing herself today.
