Light-verb construction 'in Kauf nehmen' (to put up with)

Funktionsverbgefüge 'in Kauf nehmen'

'in Kauf nehmen' = to accept / put up with (a disadvantage).

Structure

Akk. + in Kauf nehmen

acc. + in Kauf nehmen

Details

Part of Speech: Expression
Word Type: Light-verb construction
Register: Standard

Explanation

in Kauf nehmen is a light- construction meaning to accept / to put up with a disadvantage as the price of something else. The content is in the Kauf; nehmen is the light . It takes a direct () : the downside you are willing to tolerate.

Wir nehmen die hohen Kosten in Kauf. - We accept the high costs.
Für seinen Traumjob nahm er einen langen Arbeitsweg in Kauf. - For his dream job he put up with a long commute.
Man muss gewisse Risiken in Kauf nehmen. - One has to accept certain risks.

It always implies a trade-off: you knowingly tolerate something negative to gain something else.

Common mistakes:

Using it for things you simply accept neutrally - it specifically means accepting a downside.
The is Kauf (purchase) used idiomatically; do not interpret it literally, and keep the nehmen.

About Light-verb construction 'in Kauf nehmen' (to put up with)

'in Kauf nehmen' = to accept / put up with (a disadvantage).

Means 'to put up with / accept a disadvantage'; a fixed combination.

'in Kauf nehmen' = einen Nachteil akzeptieren.

Caution

Means 'to accept (a downside)': 'Wir nehmen die hohen Kosten in Kauf'.