übrig bleiben

ˈyːbʁɪç ˈblaɪbən

"Übrig bleiben" expresses the idea of something still being present after a process, consumption, or selection, or of someone being the only one left. The right English equivalent depends on whether the context involves physical leftovers, a remaining option, or the idiomatic sense of having no other choice.

1. to be left over

Used for physical leftovers or quantities that remain after something has been used or consumed.

Nach dem Fest blieb kaum etwas von dem großen Kuchen übrig.
Hardly anything was left over from the large cake after the party.
Vom Jahresbudget blieben am Ende nur wenige Hundert Euro übrig.
Only a few hundred euros were left over from the annual budget in the end.

2. to remain

Something or someone stays as the only option, person, or quantity (slightly more formal than 'be left over').

Von den ursprünglich acht Bewerbern blieben nach der ersten Runde nur drei übrig.
Of the original eight applicants, only three remained after the first round.
Was bleibt übrig, wenn man alle Abzüge berücksichtigt?
What remains once all deductions are taken into account?

3. to have no choice but to · idiomatic

Used in the construction 'es bleibt nichts anderes übrig, als ...': there is no other course of action available.

Da alle Flüge gestrichen wurden, blieb uns nichts anderes übrig, als mit dem Zug zu fahren.
Since all flights were cancelled, we had no choice but to travel by train.
Mir bleibt nichts anderes übrig, als das Angebot abzulehnen.
I have no choice but to decline the offer.
Wenn er nicht reagiert, bleibt uns nichts übrig, als rechtliche Schritte einzuleiten.
If he doesn't respond, we will have no option but to take legal action.

Notes

In German, both 'übrig bleiben' (written as two words) and 'übrigbleiben' (one word) are correct; formal usage increasingly favors the single-word spelling. In English, no single verb covers all the nuances: 'be left over' emphasizes that something is a remainder, 'remain' is broader and more formal, and the idiomatic 'have no choice but to' requires an entirely different sentence structure.

Synonyms

verbleiben übrig sein zurückbleiben

Related phrases

übrig lassen Rest Überbleibsel verbleiben ausscheiden Rückstand