verschonen
Translation
to spare, to let off, to exempt
Examples
Verschone mich mit deinen Ausreden!
Spare me your excuses!
Das Unwetter hat unser Haus verschont.
The storm spared our house.
Er wurde vom Militärdienst verschont.
He was exempted from military service.
Grammar Patterns
((sb.)) ((mit+3)) verschonen to spare sb. sth. Spare me your lies!
((sb.)) ((von+3)) verschonen to spare sb. from sth. He was spared from military service.
((sb./sth.)) verschonen to spare sb./sth. The hurricane spared the city.
Similar Words
erlassen (to remit), freistellen (to exempt), in Ruhe lassen (to leave alone)
Etymology
From the prefix 'ver-' (here as an intensifier or indicating completion) and 'schonen' (to protect, to go easy on).
Memory Tips
If you 'schonen' (protect) someone, you 'verschonen' them from harm or a boring story.