Auf dem Spiel stehen
Example: Bei dieser Entscheidung steht viel auf dem Spiel für unsere Zukunft.
Definition
"Auf dem Spiel stehen" means that something important is at risk or in danger of being lost, especially in situations where outcomes can significantly affect future conditions or well-being, such as decisions, events, or ventures.
Etymology
The phrase "auf dem Spiel stehen" originates from the German words "Spiel" meaning 'game' or 'play' and "stehen" meaning 'to stand.' It figuratively refers to something being 'on the game,' implying it is at stake or risk, similar to gambling where items are placed 'on the game.' Did you know this expression vividly captures the tension of losing something valuable?
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"Auf dem Spiel stehen" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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