verschenken
to give away
To give something to someone as a gift without expecting anything in return.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihre alten Kinderbücher an die Nachbarsfamilie verschenkt.
She gave away her old children's books to the family next door.
verschenken
to give away
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
verschenken
to throw away
In a figurative sense, to leave a good opportunity, advantage, or chance unused or to give it up carelessly.
EXAMPLE
Die Fußballmannschaft hat durch einen Fehler in der letzten Minute den sicheren Sieg verschenkt.
The soccer team threw away a certain victory through a mistake in the last minute.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verschenken' (to give away) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'schenken' (to give as a present) in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Er hat seine gesamte Plattensammlung verschenkt, als er umgezogen ist.
He gave away his entire record collection when he moved.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the object: If concrete things like books or furniture are being given away, the literal meaning is intended. If abstract things like a victory, a chance, or points are being given away, the figurative meaning 'ungenutzt lassen' (to leave unused) is intended.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe ein paar alte Stühle zu verschenken.
I have a few old chairs to give away.
Typical expression
The phrase 'zu verschenken' (free to take / to give away) is used very often in classified ads or on signs to indicate that something is being given away for free.
EXAMPLE
An der Straße stand eine Kiste mit der Aufschrift „Bücher zu verschenken“.
There was a box on the street with the label 'Bücher zu verschenken' (free books).
Typical collocations
In the figurative meaning, 'verschenken' (to throw away) is often used in sports or competition contexts. Typical collocations are 'einen Sieg verschenken' (to throw away a victory), 'Punkte verschenken' (to throw away points), or 'eine Chance verschenken' (to throw away a chance).
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft hat in der zweiten Halbzeit zu viele Torchancen verschenkt.
The team threw away too many scoring chances in the second half.
Compare with
verschenken vs vergeben
to assign / to forgive / to miss
vergeben and verschenken can both mean that a chance goes unused. vergeben generally describes missing the opportunity, while verschenken emphasizes more strongly that someone carelessly gives up a valuable advantage. That is why verschenken sounds more critical when the mistake could have been avoided.
verschenken
Durch einen unnötigen Fehlpass verschenkt die Mannschaft ihre klare Chance auf den Sieg.
With an unnecessary misplaced pass, the team throws away its clear chance to win.
vergeben
Mit dem Schuss neben das Tor vergibt die Mannschaft ihre letzte Chance auf den Sieg.
By shooting wide of the goal, the team misses its last chance to win.
In real life
Loading video examples...