Lehrgeld zahlen
to learn the hard way; to suffer a costly lesson through inexperience
Origin
The expression comes from the craft trades: 'Lehrgeld' (apprentice's fee) was the sum an apprentice's parents had to pay the training master for instruction, board and lodging. Figuratively the saying means to suffer harm through inexperience and grow wiser from it.
Building blocks
Words in this expression
Grammar that uses this word
- Infinitive construction 'ohne ... zu' / 'anstatt ... zu' (without / instead of doing)Infinitivkonstruktion 'ohne ... zu' / 'anstatt ... zu'
- sowie (as well as, and)sowie (Konjunktion)
- Temporal prepositions (elevated): binnen, innerhalb, außerhalbTemporale Präpositionen (gehoben): binnen, innerhalb, außerhalb
- beziehungsweise / bzw. (respectively, or)beziehungsweise (bzw.)
Examples
Bei meinem ersten habe ich Lehrgeld gezahlt.
With my first business I really learned my lesson the hard way.