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abkratzen
/ˈap.kʁat͡sn̩/
to scrape off
Er kratzte den alten Lack von der Tür ab.
He scraped the old paint off the door.
neutral
to scrape off (a substance from a surface)
Die Farbe muss von der Wand abgekratzt werden.
The paint has to be scraped off the wall.
Commonly used with tools like a knife, spatula, or scraper.
informal
to die (informal, colloquial)
Der alte Hund ist endlich abgekratzt.
The old dog finally kicked the bucket.
Considered vulgar or dark humor. Avoid in formal contexts.
informal
to leave quickly (regional, colloquial)
Er hat einfach abgekratzt, ohne sich zu verabschieden.
He just bolted without saying goodbye.
Regional usage, mainly in northern and central Germany.
Collocations
etwas abkratzento scrape something offvon etwas abkratzento scrape off from somethingabkratzen gehento kick the bucket (informal)
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid in formal writing
The informal meaning ('to die') is not suitable for professional or respectful contexts. Use 'sterben' (to die) instead.
Gold Rule
Literal vs. figurative meaning
Always check the context. If someone says 'Er ist abgekratzt,' they likely mean 'He died,' not 'He scraped something off.'
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'abekrāzen', from Old High German 'krāzōn' (to scratch), related to Middle Dutch 'krazen' and Old English 'crāwan' (to scratch). The informal sense 'to die' emerged in the 19th century, likely from the idea of 'scratching off' life.
Usage Notes
The verb 'abkratzen' is highly context-dependent. In literal contexts, it refers to physical scraping. In informal speech, it can mean death or leaving abruptly. The colloquial sense is considered vulgar by some speakers.
Word Breakdown
ab-
prefix indicating separation or removal
prefixkratzen
to scratch, scrape
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