cannylinguist ([info]cannylinguist) wrote,
@ 2003-12-05 16:30:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend  Next Entry
Germans have a word for that (1)
The first installment of our informal Germans-have-a-word-for-that series is

Torschlusspanik (n. fem.): the fear of missing an impending crucial deadline or important event; last-minute panic.

Usage example:

aus Torschlusspanik heiraten: to marry out of fear you will reach middle age without having found a partner.

Leggorphological analysis: Tor (gate; goal) + Schluss (end; conclusion) + Panik (panic; fear).

(4 comments) - (Post a new comment)


(Anonymous)
2003-12-10 04:16 am UTC (link)
I'd like to note that 'Schluss' also means 'the closing', so 'Torschluss' would mean 'the closing of the gate'. I wonder if the origin of this word might have had something to do with the practice of not letting people into the city anymore after dark -- in effect, after closing the gate(s). This'd mean you'd be stuck outside of the safe environments of the city if you didn't hurry.
If have no clue up till when this practice was actually in use!!!

(Reply to this)


[info]cannylinguist
2003-12-12 08:17 am UTC (link)
I'd like to note that 'Schluss' also means 'the closing'

Indeed. Thanks for pointing it out. The possible origin of Torschluss you suggest is very sensible. I tried to find something on this but had no success with my limited sources. The Duden Deutsches Universal Wörterbuch only lists the word, without any reference to origin, and documents its use only in phrases (kurz vor Torschluss / at the last minute) or compound words (Torschlusspanik). I also couldn't find any online source, but I'll put it in the stack in case I run into a more detailed reference (I believe the Duden-In-However-Many-Volumes has a tome on word origins).

If every language had an OED!

(Reply to this)

I don't know german.
[info]ikaev
2005-07-07 05:53 am UTC (link)
but Putin knows it very well - He is Russian President.
If you don't know yet - Russia is bigest country of the world.

(Reply to this) (Thread)
Re: I don't know german.
(Anonymous)
2006-10-24 05:50 am UTC (link)
NI PUTIN NI HOSTIAS. ESTE ES UN ASESINO

(Reply to this) (Parent)

(4 comments) - (Post a new comment)

Create an Account
Forgot your login or password?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…