to be sold out / to help oneself to
Loading your saved state.
to be sold out
To no longer be in stock or available because everything has been sold. Often used for books, tickets, or special offers.
Die Konzertkarten waren leider schon nach einer Stunde vergriffen.
Unfortunately, the concert tickets were sold out after just one hour.
The verb 'vergreifen' is inseparable. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'greifen' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Er hat sich gestern Abend im Ton vergriffen.
He used the wrong tone last night.
In most meanings, 'vergreifen' is a reflexive verb and is used with 'sich' (oneself). The only exception is the participle form 'vergriffen sein' (to be sold out).
Du solltest dich nicht einfach an den Sachen anderer Leute vergreifen.
You shouldn't just help yourself to other people's things.
When expressing what or whom someone 'sich vergreift an' (helps themselves to/assaults), the preposition 'an' is used with the dative. This applies both to taking things without permission and to attacks on people.
Er hat sich an den Vorräten für die Party vergriffen.
He helped himself to the supplies for the party.
The form 'vergriffen sein' (to be sold out) describes a state and is formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). It means that a product is sold out.
Das neue Buch war innerhalb eines Tages komplett vergriffen.
The new book was completely sold out within one day.
The phrase 'sich im Ton vergreifen' (to use the wrong tone) is a fixed expression. It means that someone uses inappropriate, insulting, or disrespectful wording.
Der Politiker hat sich bei der Pressekonferenz im Ton vergriffen.
The politician used the wrong tone at the press conference.
available
'verfügbar' and 'vergriffen sein' describe opposite situations when buying or using something. If something is 'verfügbar' (available), you can get it or use it. If something is 'vergriffen' (sold out), it is no longer in stock because everything has been sold. 'vergriffen' is often used for books, tickets, or offers. The simple contrast is: 'verfügbar' means still there; 'vergriffen' means no longer available.
Die Konzertkarten sind seit gestern vergriffen.
The concert tickets have been sold out since yesterday.
Das Buch ist in der Buchhandlung noch verfügbar.
The book is still available at the bookstore.