von Pontius zu Pilatus
German
Alternative forms
- von Pontius nach Pilatus (especially northwestern Germany; based on regional use of nach, reinforced by analogy with a placename)
Etymology
Literally, “from Pontius to Pilate”. Likely alteration of an older von Herodes zu Pilatus (“from Herod to Pilate”); compare Spanish de Herodes a Pilatos. The form may have originated as a malapropism (Pontius and Pilate being one and the same person), but it surely caught on because it emphasizes the annoyance of the to-and-fro movement even more.
Adverb
- (informal) from pillar to post, an irritatingly long and indirect way, especially in order to get or find something
- Ich bin von Pontius zu Pilatus gelaufen, um deine blöde Gesichtscreme zu finden.
- I went from pillar to post to find that stupid face cream of yours.