Literally: “gallows deadline” / a final delay before an unpleasant event
Monday morning, math exam. You basically had enough time to prepare for analytic geometry and linear algebra. But once again, you had better things to do and now you look like a complete dumbass.
Then comes the relieving news: The teacher is sick and the exam is therefore postponed until next week. So, you will have another 6 days to binge your favorite TV show until you start learning in panic on Sunday. In English, you would probably call this a last respite. But German wouldn’t be German if it hadn’t come up with a much more creative term.
The word Galgenfrist is frequently used when there are a few days left before something very unpleasant eventually happens. It has been around since the 16th century and originally referred to the final reprieve given to a delinquent before his execution. Which is, without any doubt, not half as unpleasant as a math exam at Herr Dr. Müller in my 11th grade.
