dismay
das Leidwesen
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to someone's dismay
To the regret or annoyance of a particular person; indicates that something is unpleasant or unwanted for that person.
Zu ihrem Leidwesen musste sie die Reise kurzfristig absagen.
To her dismay, she had to cancel the trip at short notice.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Leidwesens |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Leidwesen | – |
| accusative | das Leidwesen | – |
| dative | dem Leidwesen | – |
| genitive | des Leidwesens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Leidwesen' (dismay) is almost always used in the fixed expression 'zu jemandes Leidwesen' (to someone's dismay). The expression usually appears with a possessive expression such as 'zu meinem' (to my), 'zu ihrem' (to her), or 'zu seinem Leidwesen' (to his dismay).
Zu seinem Leidwesen wurde der Termin erneut verschoben.
To his dismay, the appointment was postponed again.
The expression can appear at the beginning of the sentence or in the middle field. When it appears at the beginning of the sentence, the conjugated verb follows directly afterward.
Zu ihrem Leidwesen blieb das Geschäft an diesem Tag geschlossen.
To her dismay, the shop remained closed that day.
Das Geschäft blieb zu ihrem Leidwesen an diesem Tag geschlossen.
The shop remained closed that day to her dismay.
'Leidwesen' (dismay) mainly belongs to elevated, written language. It frequently appears in reports, commentaries, or deliberately detached descriptions of unpleasant consequences.
Zum allgemeinen Leidwesen konnte die Veranstaltung nicht stattfinden.
To everyone's dismay, the event could not take place.
