der Hosenboden
seat of the pants
The part of a pair of pants that covers the buttocks and that you sit on.
EXAMPLE
Der Hosenboden seiner Jeans war schon ganz durchgescheuert.
The seat of his jeans was already completely worn through.
der Hosenboden
seat / backside
der Hosenboden, die Hosenböden
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Meanings
der Hosenboden
backside
Colloquial term for the buttocks.
EXAMPLE
Er rutschte auf dem Eis aus und landete auf dem Hosenboden.
He slipped on the ice and landed on his backside.
sich auf den Hosenboden setzen
to buckle down
Colloquially: to get down to work seriously and persistently, especially when studying.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du die Prüfung bestehen willst, musst du dich endlich auf den Hosenboden setzen.
If you want to pass the exam, you finally have to buckle down and study.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Hosenboden, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Hosenböden |
| genitive | des Hosenbodens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Hosenboden | die Hosenböden |
| accusative | den Hosenboden | die Hosenböden |
| dative | dem Hosenboden | den Hosenböden |
| genitive | des Hosenbodens | der Hosenböden |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Hosenboden' is made up of 'Hosen' (pants) and 'Boden' (bottom). The image of the lower part of a pair of pants also helps with understanding its figurative uses.
EXAMPLE
Beim Klettern ist mein Hosenboden nass geworden.
My backside got wet while climbing.
Typical collocations
When referring to the fabric of the pants, typical collocations are 'ein durchgescheuerter Hosenboden' (a worn-through seat), 'ein Loch im Hosenboden' (a hole in the seat), and 'den Hosenboden flicken' (to mend the seat).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du das Loch im Hosenboden flicken?
Can you mend the hole in the seat?
Movement and position
When someone falls, the phrase 'auf den Hosenboden fallen' (to fall on one's backside) is commonly used, with the accusative. If someone is already sitting on their backside and moves that way, 'auf dem Hosenboden rutschen' (to slide along on one's backside) is appropriate, with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind verlor das Gleichgewicht und fiel auf den Hosenboden.
The child lost its balance and fell on its backside.
Die Kinder rutschten auf dem Hosenboden den Hang hinunter.
The children slid down the hill on their backsides.
Fixed expression
The colloquial expression follows the pattern 'sich auf den Hosenboden setzen' (to buckle down): The reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject, and 'auf den Hosenboden' takes the accusative. It is often used with 'müssen' (to have to) or as a direct command and can sound strict.
EXAMPLE
Setz dich auf den Hosenboden und bereite dich gründlich auf die Abschlussprüfung vor!
Buckle down and prepare thoroughly for your final exam!
In real life
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