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abgegriffen

worn smooth by handling, well-thumbed

adjective AHP-ge-grif-en Rare
Descriptions & Qualities Conditions

Also means

hackneyed, clichéd (phrase)

Usage Note

abgegriffen describes a surface worn down by the repeated touch of hands — ein abgegriffenes Buch (a well-thumbed book), ein abgegriffener Türknauf. Applied to language, abgegriffene Phrasen are clichés worn out through overuse.

Examples

"Das abgegriffene Taschenbuch zeigte, wie oft sie es gelesen hatte."

Natural Translation

The well-thumbed paperback showed how often she had read it.

Literal Translation

The well-thumbed paperback showed how often she it had read.

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