die Westentasche
vest pocket
A small pocket on a vest.
EXAMPLE
Er bewahrte seine Taschenuhr in der Westentasche auf.
He kept his pocket watch in his vest pocket.
die Westentasche
vest pocket
die Westentasche, die Westentaschen
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Meanings
jemanden in die Westentasche stecken
to run rings around someone
To be clearly superior to someone and defeat or outperform them with little effort.
EXAMPLE
Die erfahrene Spielerin steckt ihre junge Konkurrentin in die Westentasche.
The experienced player runs rings around her young competitor.
etwas wie seine Westentasche kennen
to know something like the back of one's hand
To know something very well.
EXAMPLE
Sie kennt das Viertel wie ihre Westentasche.
She knows the neighborhood like the back of her hand.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Westentasche, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Westentaschen |
| genitive | der Westentasche |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Westentasche | die Westentaschen |
| accusative | die Westentasche | die Westentaschen |
| dative | der Westentasche | den Westentaschen |
| genitive | der Westentasche | der Westentaschen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Westentasche' (vest pocket) combines the words 'Weste' (vest) and 'Tasche' (pocket). The compound originally referred to a pocket belonging to a vest.
EXAMPLE
In seiner Westentasche fand er noch einen alten Schlüssel.
He found an old key in his vest pocket.
Typical usage
The literal meaning is often used with a location phrase containing 'in': Something is in the vest pocket or is kept there.
EXAMPLE
Er steckte den kleinen Schlüssel in die Westentasche.
He put the small key in his vest pocket.
Fixed expression
In the figurative expression, the superior person is the subject and the person being outperformed is the accusative object: jemand steckt jemanden in die Westentasche (someone puts someone in their pocket). The expression is usually figurative and is often used approvingly or confidently.
EXAMPLE
Mit seiner langjährigen Erfahrung steckt der Trainer jeden Anfänger in die Westentasche.
With his many years of experience, the coach runs rings around every beginner.
In real life
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