vor sich hin

• für sich hin (archaic)

Literally, “in front of oneself along”.

The prepositions für (“for”) and vor (“before”) were not distinguished strictly until ca. 1850. In this idiom particularly, it may be questioned which of the two is the more proper interpretation. Vor does make good enough sense with verbs such as vor sich hin singen (“to sing to oneself”), but on the whole für may actually be considered more appropriate. Be that as it may, only vor is now standard and has generally established itself.

• IPA^(key): /ˌfoːr zɪç ˈhɪn/, [ˌfoːɐ̯ zɪç ˈhɪn], [ˌfɔɐ̯ ...]

vor sich hin

1. to/for oneself (alone, not directed at anyone else)

   Er singt leise vor sich hin. ― He’s singing quietly to himself.

   Er träumt vor sich hin. ― He’s daydreaming for himself.

2. (by extension) slowly but steadily, without being bothered or interrupted by anyone

   Sie arbeiten so vor sich hin.

   They’re working slowly without being bothered.

• In the 1st and 2nd persons singular, the construction is usually accusative (ich träume vor mich hin), but dative is also encountered (... vor mir hin).
• When hin precedes a verb (e.g. in subclauses), it may be joined to it or not: vor sich hinträumen or vor sich hin träumen.