etwas entgeht jemandem
Grammar & Usage
How it works
This construction uses the intransitive strong verb 'entgehen', where the thing that goes unnoticed or is missed serves as the grammatical subject in the nominative case, while the person who misses it is the indirect object in the dative case. In compound past tenses, it forms the perfect with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (z. B. 'ist entgangen'). It can also be used reflexively with 'lassen' ('sich etwas entgehen lassen' meaning 'to miss out on something').
Sample sentences
Seinen aufmerksamen Augen entgeht wirklich kein einziges Detail.
Not a single detail escapes his watchful eyes.
Es ist mir völlig entgangen, dass der Termin verschoben wurde.
It completely escaped my notice that the appointment was postponed.
Diese einmalige Chance solltest du dir auf keinen Fall entgehen lassen.
You definitely should not miss out on this unique opportunity.
Quick facts
Mnemonic
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Example
Seinen aufmerksamen Augen entgeht wirklich kein einziges Detail.
Not a single detail escapes his watchful eyes.
Es ist mir völlig entgangen, dass der Termin verschoben wurde.
It completely escaped my notice that the appointment was postponed.
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