den Vogel abschießen
to outdo everyone (take the prize); also ironically, to do something spectacularly stupid
Origin
The expression comes from the custom of 'shooting the bird' at marksmen's festivals: whoever shot the wooden bird off the pole became 'Schützenkönig' (shooting king) and had literally 'shot down the bird'. The custom is attested from the Middle Ages onward.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Irregular verbs: e → ie (sehen, lesen)Unregelmäßige Verben: e → ie (sehen, lesen)
- Local preposition 'über' (above, Wo?/where? + dative)Lokale Präposition 'über' (Wo? + Dativ)
- Local preposition 'auf' (onto, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)Lokale Präposition 'auf' (Wohin? + Akkusativ)
- Local preposition 'über' (over/above, Wohin?/where to? + accusative)Lokale Präposition 'über' (Wohin? + Akkusativ)
Examples
Mit seiner hat er den abgeschossen – waren .
With his speech he stole the show — everyone was thrilled.