Last year I was in Germany in Ruhr area for education as an Erasmus (European student replacement program). I wanted to buy some vegetables there, for that I went into a small shop, after a short communication cashier said to me “Lassen Sie sich!” I think this phrase means “please go ahead, you can buy whatever you want” But now I want to me make sure if is it used for a specific situation?
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4As is it doesn’t mean anything. Are you sure that’s what he said?– JanOct 30, 2015 at 20:23
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Yes she said she was a persish saler, i think she wasn't a native but she exactly so said– user1474062Oct 30, 2015 at 20:29
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Could it be, that that cashier did not say »Lassen« but »Bedienen«? Because »Bedienen Sie sich« literally means »Serve yourself«, which is very similar to »please go ahead, you can buy whatever you want«.– Hubert SchölnastOct 30, 2015 at 22:01
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No that couldn't be i' m sure it was something like: Lassen Sie ...– user1474062Oct 30, 2015 at 23:11
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2 Answers
Closest phrase I can think of and which makes sense in that situation is
Lassen Sie sich Zeit. – Take your time.
“Lassen Sie sich” is most probably a fragment only. I cannot definitely exclude Pott slang tho.
answered Oct 30, 2015 at 20:45
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2"is most probably a fragment only", not just probably, it definitely is incomplete. Not grammatically, but this sentence as it stands does not make sense.– alkOct 31, 2015 at 7:33
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“Lassen Sie sich …” mostly means that you are served by someone. You are meant to stay passive and enjoy (more or less) what is done to you.
Some further examples:
Lassen Sie sich verwöhnen. — Give yourself a treat. (Precisely means “We will give you a treat.”)
Lassen Sie sich einkleiden. — I/we will dress you.
Lassen Sie sich gehen. — Just relax.
But there is also another side: “Lassen Sie sich nicht …” which means that you should defend yourself against something.
Examples:
Lassen Sie sich nicht fertig machen. — Don’t let them stoush you.
Lassen Sie sich nicht abzocken. — Don’t let them rip you off (your money).
