die Flinte ins Korn werfen

to give up; to throw in the sponge

Origin

From the military world of the 17th/18th c.: fleeing mercenaries threw their musket (Flinte) into the cornfield to escape faster and signal surrender.

Source →

Building blocks

Words in this expression

ins· into the das Korn· grain nach· after der Rückschlag· setback werfen· to throw

Grammar that uses this word

Pronoun 'ich' (I, nominative)Pronomen 'ich' (Nominativ)
Pronoun 'er' (he/it, nominative)Pronomen 'er' (Nominativ)
Pronoun 'wir' (we, nominative)Pronomen 'wir' (Nominativ)
Pronoun 'ihr' (you all, informal, nominative)Pronomen 'ihr' (Nominativ)

Examples

Auch dem warf sie die Flinte nicht .
Even after the setback she didn't give up.