42 Greek Expressions You Want to Know
αβγδεζηθικλμνξοπρστυφχψωΒΓΔΕΖΗΘΙΚΛΜΝΞΟΠΡΣΤΥΦΧΨ
Αμίλητος σαν ψάρι.
Literal translation: Silent like a fish.
Figurative meaning: Silent as the grave. To say absolutely nothing.
Παράδειγμα: Τι τρέχει σήμερα; Είσαι αμίλητος σαν ψάρι.
Example: What's wrong with you today? You are silent as the grave.
Βουτυρόπαιδο!
Literal translation: Butter kiddo!
Figurative meaning: A spoiled kid! A milksop!
Usage: Use it with any nouveau-riche that gets on your nerves!
Παράδειγμα: Πάρε το βουτυρόπαιδο απ' την Κηφισιά με BMW!
Example: Call the milksop who lives in Kifisia and has BMW!
*ΥΓ: Kifisia is a district in Athens where rich people usually live!*
Βράσε ρύζι!
Literal translation: Boil rice!
Figurative meaning: You need to figure out something, it's none of my business!
Usage: The expression shows frustration and stalemate; a situation in which neither group involved in an argument can win or get an advantage and no action can be taken.
Παράδειγμα: Αν δεν έχεις τα λεφτά να πληρώσεις το νοίκι, βράσε ρύζι!
Example: If you don't have money to pay the rent, well then, just sort yourself out! It's none of my business!
Δεν μασάω.
Literal translation: To not chew.
Figurative meaning: I am not buying it! I don't believe in you!
Origin: In Greek, to chew is interestingly enough can be synonyms with to eat, to swallow, to gulp down. The idiom uses the early concept of when Greek fishermen saw that a fish chews a given bait, the fish was considered to be caught.
Παράδειγμα: Δεν μασάω, λες ψέματα! Νομίζεις ότι κοροϊδεύεις ένα παιδί; Να πας αλλού!
Example: I am not buying it, you are lying! Do you think you are fooling a kid? Go elsewhere!
Δεν τον χωνεύω.
Literal translation: To not be digesting it.
Figurative meaning: I can't take it anymore! I am disgusted! To make someone feel sick, angry or upset.
Παράδειγμα: Μου είπες ψέματα εκατό φορές, δεν σε χωνεύω!
Example: You lied to me a hundred times, I can't take it anymore! I am disgusted!
Είναι φέτες.
Literal translation: To be in pieces.
Figurative meaning: He/she is fit!
Παράδειγμα: Πόσες ώρες γυμνάζεσαι την ημέρα; Οι κοιλιακοί σου φαίνονται τόσο γυμνασμένοι! Είσαι φέτες!
Example: How many times you work out a day? Your abs look ripped! You are so fit!
Είναι πίτα.
Literal translation: To be a pita.
Figurative meaning: He/she's drunk!
Παράδειγμα: Δεν μπορείς να περπατήσεις ευθεία! Είσαι πίτα!
Example: You can't even walk straight! You are drunk!
Η θάλασσα είναι λάδι!
Literal translation: The sea is (like) oil.
Figurative meaning: The sea is flat like a pond!
Παράδειγμα: Ουάου, καταπληκτικό! Η θάλασσα είναι λάδι σήμερα!
Example: Wow so dope! The sea is dead-flat today!
Ήρθε και έκατσε κερασάκι στην τούρτα!
Literal translation: Mini cherry came and sat right on the pie!
Figurative meaning: Oh perfect, it was the last fınal touch that I ever needed!
Παράδειγμα: Ωωω τέλεια! Ήρθε και έκατσε κερασάκι στην τούρτα!
Example: Oh wow amazing! All I needed!
Θα φας ξύλο.
Literal translation: You are going to eat wood.
Figurative meaning: I am going to beat you up! (not literally!)
Origin: The idiom doesn't have any sexual reference (!), quite the contrary Greek mums tend to use it in order to discipline their kids. It's ironic, no one gets beaten up unless you actually wanna eat ksilo!
Category: Informal
Παράδειγμα: Αμάν! Πω πω! Πάλι έσπασες το βάζο! Πόσες φορές σου είπα να μην παίζεις μπάλα στο σπίτι! Θα φας ξύλο μικρούλα!
Example: Oh no! Oh dear lord! You broke the vase again! How many times I told you not to play football in the house! I will flick you my little!
Θα φας το κεφάλι σου.
Literal translation: You will eat your head.
Figurative meaning: You are riding for a fall! You will lose it all!
Category: Colloquial
Παράδειγμα: Μην τρέχεις τόσο πολύ με το αυτοκίνητο γιατί είναι πολύ επικύνδινο. Θα φας το κεφάλι σου κάποια μέρα αν δεν σταματήσεις!
Example: Do not speed up so much with the car as it is very dangerous. You will lose it all if you don't stop acting like this!
Θα σε φάω ζωντανό.
Literal translation: I will eat you alive.
Figurative meaning: I am going to make your life hell!
Παράδειγμα: Δεν μπορώ να σε πιστέψω! Έβαλες όλα μου τα ρούχα στην χλωρίνη! Θα σε φάω ζωντανό!
Example: I can't believe you! You bleached all my clothes! I will make your life hell!
Κάθε πράγµα στον καιρό του, κι ο κολιός τον Αύγουστο.
Literal translation: Everything in its time and mackerel in August.
Figurative meaning: All in good time. Things will fall into place when the right time comes.
Παράδειγμα: Μην βιάζεις τα πράγματα! Κάθε πράγµα στον καιρό του, κι ο κολιός τον Αύγουστο
Example: Don't rush things! Things will fall into place when the right time comes.
Κατάπιες τη γλώσσα σου;
Literal translation: You swallow your mouth?
Figurative meaning: Cat got your tongue?
Παράδειγμα: Ουάου, δεν έχεις τίποτα να μου πεις; Κατάπιες τη γλώσσα σου;
Example: Wow, you've got nothing to tell me? Cat got your tongue?
Κάλλιο λάχανα με γλύκα, παρά ζάχαρη με πίκρα.
Literal translation: First vegetables with sweets, despite sugar with bitterness.
Figurative meaning: Better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable.
Mainly used for married couples who prefer poverty to concord.
Category: Not frequently used
Παράδειγμα: Καλύτερα φτωχός κι ευτυχισμένος, παρά πλούσιος και δυστυχισμένος. Δεν το αγοράζουμε! Σου είπα! Μην με κανείς να επαναλαμβάνομαι! Κάλλιο λάχανα με γλύκα, παρά ζάχαρη με πίκρα.
Example: Better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable. We are not buying that! I told you! Don't make me repeat! Better to be poor and happy than rich and miserable.
Με την ψυχή στο στόμα.
Literal translation: With the soul in the mouth.
Figurative meaning: To perform full power in order to achieve something.
Παράδειγμα: Σε πόση ώρα φτάνουμε στο αεροδρόμιο και πάλι; Η πτήση μου είναι σε 10 λέπτά... Πάλι με την ψυχή στο στόμα θα φτάσουμε;
Example: We reached the airport in a hurry yet again? My flight is in ten minutes... We did everything we possibly can, we will make it right?
Μάτι γαρίδα.
Literal translation: Shrimp eye.
Figurative meaning: Sharp eye.
Origin: In ancient times or according to researchers 515 million years ago, Anomalocaris meaning 'strange shrimp' was known as the most sharp-sighted predator of the time. The sea creature was about 90-120 centimetres. Over centuries, shrimps evolved into a more compact form, however, their acute eyesight remained in their nature.
The expression is used to indicate someone vigilant who notices everything and nothing gets away unnoticed from his sight.
Παράδειγμα: Έχεις μάτι γαρίδα! Δεν σου ξεφεύγει τίποτα! Τι εξαιρετική παρατηρητικότητα!
Example: You have a sharp eye! Nothing goes unnoticed from you! What a keen eye!
Με τρώει το σαράκι!
Literal translation: The woodworm eats me!
Figurative meaning: I let my worries to take over!
Παράδειγμα: Ξέρω ότι έχεις προβλήματα, και όλοι μας έχουμε προβλήματα αλλά είσαι συχνά πάρα πολύ απαισιόδοξο. Αφήνεις ότι σε τρώει το σαράκι!
Example: I know you have problems, we all have problems but you are always way too pessimistic. You let your worries to eat you away!
Μετρημένα κουκιά.
Literal translation: Carefully beans.
Figurative meaning: It's in the bag.
Origin: In Ancient Greece, they used the beans in order to vote instead of voting with paper. Therefore after the vote, the beans would be counted.
Παράδειγμα: Πάλι ετοίμαζομαστε για εκλογές, θα ανοίξουν οι κάλπες και θα αρχίσουμε να μετράμε κουκιά, έτσι δεν είναι;
Example: Again we prepare for the elections, we will open the ballot box and count the votes, right?
Μπρίκια κολλάμε;
Literal translation: Are we glueing coffee pots?
Figurative meaning: Are you underestimating me? You think what I do is merely important?
The expression is used when someone is under the impression that your job is not significantly important.
Παράδειγμα: Τι δουλειά νομίζεις ότι κάνω; Μπρίκια κολλάμε;
Example: What kind of work do you think I do? You think the job I have is not that important?
Ξαναζεσταμένο φαγητό.
Literal translation: Reheated food.
Figurative meaning: Irrelevant!
Παράδειγμα: Τι λες απέχει παρασάγγας από ό,τι συζητούμε! Ξαναζεσταμένο φαγητό!
Example: What you are saying has nothing to do with what we are discussing! It's quite irrelevant!
Ξεχείλισε το ποτήρι.
Literal translation: The glass ran over.
Figurative meaning: This was the last straw!
Παράδειγμα: Μου έχεις σπάσει τα νεύρα, δεν σε μπορώ άλλο σε έχω ανεχτεί αρκετά πλέον το ποτήρι έχει ξεχειλίσει!
Example: You got on my nerves, I can't take it anymore, this was the last straw!
Ο πεινασμενός καρβέλια ονειρεύεται.
Literal translation: The hungry one dreams about white bread.
Figurative meaning: The one who's in more need will thrive more!
Παράδειγμα: Ο ΠΑΟΚ αυτή τη χρονια θα παρει το πρωταθλημα και έχω προαίσθημα για αυτό!
Τι λες πάλι; αφού ο ΠΑΟΚ έχει 30 χρόνια να πάρει πρωτάθλημα, ο πεινασμενός καρβέλια ονειρευέται.
Example: This year, PAOK will win the championship, I have a feeling about it!
Come again? PAOK already have had 30 years of the championship title, the ones who haven't won the title will fight harder.
Όποιος έχει πολύ βούτυρο, βάζει και στα λάχανα.
Literal translation: Whoever has a lot of butter, puts some also on vegetables.
Figurative meaning: Anyone who has a lot of money, waste some of it or they do expensive wastes.
Παράδειγμα: Έχει τόσα πολλά λεφτά που δεν ξέρει τι να τα κάνει τα σπαταλάει δεξιά και αριστερά, τελικά όποιος έχει πολύ βούτυρο βάζει και στα λάχανα.
Example: He has so much money he does not know what to do with the wastes left and right, so he who has much puts butter and sprouts.
Όποιος καεί στο γάλα φυσάει και το γιαούρτι.
Literal translation: Whoever gets burnt by the (hot) milk blows on the (cool) yogurt.
Figurative meaning: Once bitten, twice shy.
Παράδειγμα: Δεν εμπιστεύεται κανέναν πια. Όποιος καεί στο γάλα φυσάει και το γιαούρτι.
Example: He/she doesn't trust anyone anymore. Once bitten, twice shy.
Όπου ακούς πολλά κεράσια, κράτα και μικρό καλάθι.
Literal translation: When you hear a lot of cherries, keep a small basket.
Figurative meaning: If you hear many promises, do not expect much.
Παράδειγμα: Όπου ακούς πολλές υποσχέσεις, μην περιμένεις πολλά πράγματα.
Όπου ακούς πολλά κεράσια, κράτα και μικρό καλάθι.
Example: If you hear many promises, do not expect much.
Ότι είπαμε νερό και αλάτι.
Literal translation: Whether we said water or salt.
Figurative meaning: Let's forget about this! Let's leave it behind. Let's skip it!
Παράδειγμα: Ας το ξεχάσουμε! Ότι είπαμε νερό και αλάτι;
Example: Let's forget about this! Let's leave it behind, shall we?
Περί ορέξεως κολοκυθόπιτα.
Literal translation: Pumpkin pie for the appetite.
Figurative meaning: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. There's no accounting for tastes!
Origin: There are no rules and standards to people's liking.
Παράδειγμα: Μ'αρέσουν τα μακαρόνια με Nutella.
Σοβαρά; Περί ορέξεως κολοκυθόπιτα!
Example: I like spaghetti with Nutella.
Really? There's no accounting for tastes, I guess!
Πίνει σαν σφουγγάρι.
Literal translation: To drink like a sponge.
Figurative meaning: He drinks like a fish. He drinks an excessive amount of alcohol.
Παράδειγμα: Το πρωί τελειώνεις ένα μπουκάλι ουίσκι και το απόγευμα πίνεις όλο το μπουκάλι με το τσίπουρο. Μα την αλήθεια πίνεις σαν σφουγγάρι!
Example: In the morning, you finish a bottle of whisky and the evening you finish all the bottle of tsipouro. But seriously you drink like a fish!
Ρίχνει λάδι στη φωτιά.
Literal translation: To pour oil on the flame.
Figurative meaning: To add fuel to the fire.
Παράδειγμα: Ξέρει ότι με τρελαίνει όταν με χτύπα πίσω στον αυχένα μου και όταν δεν απαντά στις κλήσεις μου και παρόλα αυτά εξακολουθεί και ρίχνει λάδι στην φωτιά. Θα τον χωρίσω, θα δεις!
Example: He knows that it drives me mad when he hits my nape and when he doesn't return to my calls but he is trying to add fuel to the fire! I will finish him off, you'll see!
Σιγά τα λάχανα.
Literal translation: Slow down vegetables.
Figurative meaning: Calm down! Slow down! You exaggerate! Hold your horses!
The expression is used ironically to indicate that someone gives way too much importance to something in relation to its real value. It also means it's not a big deal.
Παράδειγμα: Δίνεις πολύ σημασία σε κάτι που δεν αξίζει καθόλου! Σιγά τα λάχανα...
Example: You give so much importance to things that have no value at all! Just let it go...
Σπουδαία τα λάχανα.
Literal translation: To matter as much as a cabbage.
Figurative meaning: I can't care less! Go cry elsewhere!
Παράδειγμα: Τώρα που χρειάζεσαι βοήθεια, έρχεσαι και κλαις, σπουδαία τα λάχανα.
Example: Now that you need help, you come and cry but I can't care less.
Τα έκανα σαλάτα.
Literal translation: I made it a salad.
Figurative meaning: I messed it up!
Παράδειγμα: Μια δουλειά του έβαλες να κάνει και τα έκανε σαλάτα!
Example: I gave you a job and you messed it up!
Λέω τα σύκα – σύκα και τη σκάφη – σκάφη.
Literal translation: Figs - figs and boat - boat.
Figurative meaning: I call a spade a spade. I tell things as they are...
Origin: Tell things as they are.
Παράδειγμα: Το να λες τα πράγματα όπως είναι καλύτερα από να τα υπερβάλλεις! Τα σύκα – σύκα και τη σκάφη – σκάφη!
Example: Telling things as they are, is much better than exaggerating! Always tell the truth!
Το ψάρι βρομάει από το κεφάλι.
Literal translation: The fish stinks from the head.
Figurative meaning: A fish rots from the head down.
Fact: In English, the idiom a fish rots from the head down has been also used in Shakespeare's Hamlet.
Παράδειγμα: Όλοι γνωρίζουμε ότι τα αφεντικά μαγειρεύουν τους αριθμούς και όχι οι υπάλληλοι. Όπως είναι γνωστό το ψάρι βρωμάει από το κεφάλι!
Example: We all know that the boss made up the numbers, from the employees. As we know the fish stinks from the head!
Τον φάγανε οι γιατροί.
Literal translation: Doctors ate him.
Figurative meaning: To leave a loose end and ruin something
Παράδειγμα: Όταν ήρθε στο νοσοκομείο, ήταν μια χαρά και ήταν απολύτως υγιής, δεν ξέρω τι έγινε και αρρώστησε τόσο πολύ, τον φάγανε οι γιατροί και αυτόν!
Example: When he came to the hospital, he was in good spirits and he had good health. I don't know how he became so sick, the doctors wasted him!
Του ήρθε λουκούμι.
Literal translation: He came Turkish delight.
Figurative meaning: So lit! What an unexpected surprise!
Παράδειγμα: Ήμουν χρεωμένος μέχρι τον λαιμό. Πήγα στο καζίνο και κέρδισα ένα παιχνίδι και συναντήθηκα με τη γυναίκα των ονείρων μου! Μου ήρθε λουκούμι!
Example: I was indebted to the hilt. I went to the casino and won a game and met with the woman of my dreams! So lit!
Τρώω χυλόπιτα.
Literal translation: To eat Greek traditional pasta.
Figurative meaning: I am getting refused!
Παράδειγμα: Τι ερωτική απογοήτευση! Με απέρριψε. Έφαγα χυλόπιτα!
Example: What a heartbreak! She rejected me! I got refused!
Τρώω με χρυσά κουταλιά.
Literal translation: I eat with golden spoons.
Figurative meaning: I don't feel the absence of anything, everything one can possibly think of is present.
Παράδειγμα: Αυτός ο άνθρωπος έχει τόσα πολλά λεφτά που δεν ξέρει τι να τα κάνει. Τα τρώει με χρυσά κουταλιά.
Example: This man has so much money, he does not know what to do with it. He has everything one can possibly imagine of, therefore he doesn't feel the absence of anything.
Τον έκανε τ’ αλατιού.
Literal translation: He made to salt.
Figurative meaning: He beat him up so badly.
Παράδειγμα: Τον κατατρόπωσε. Τον έδειρε. Πραγματικά, τον μπαγλάρωσε άσχημα! Με άλλα λόγια, τον έκανε τ’ αλατιού.
Example: He got defeated. He got beat up. He got beat up really bad! In other words, they beat the hell out of him.
Υπάρχουν και άλλου πορτοκαλιές που βγάζουν πορτοκάλια.
Literal translation: Oranges can be found where you pick oranges.
Figurative meaning: There are plenty more fish in the sea.
Παράδειγμα: Χωρίζουμε αλλά δεν μπορείς να βρεις κάποιον καλύτερο από μένα!
Χαχα δε νομίζω! Υπάρχουν και άλλου πορτοκαλιές που κάνουν πορτοκάλια.
Example: We are breaking up but you can't find someone better than me!
Haha, I don't think so! There are plenty more fishes in the sea!
Φάε λάδι και έλα βράδυ.
Literal translation: Eat oil and come again in the night.
Figurative meaning: Take pure joy! Make the best out of it!
Origin: In ancient times, olive oil was used in order to obtain a higher libido. Olive oil has significant importance in Greek culture. In the old ages, the couples on the first night after marriage would eat bread with olive oil in order to be blessed with fertility. The origin of this expression comes from Ladadika, Thessaloniki.
Category: Less frequently used
Παράδειγμα: Θα βγω έξω το βράδυ. Έχω να βγω από τότε που χώρισα και νομίζω ότι είμαι έτοιμος για νέες γνωριμίες.
Κατάλαβα, φάε λάδι και έλα βράδυ!
Example: I will go in the night, I have to go out since I divorced and I think I am available for meeting beautiful women.
Oh, I've got it, enjoy your night then!
Φάγαμε ψωμί κι αλάτι μαζί.
Literal translation: We ate bread and salt.
Figurative meaning: We have spent our lives side by side. We have been together all along!
Origin: The idiom indicates brotherhood or can make a reference to the past to indicate how similar one and other is.
Παράδειγμα: Έχουμε καλές αναμνήσεις από το παρελθόν και περάσαμε πολλά και καλά. Φάγαμε ψωμί κι αλάτι μαζί!
Example: We have good memories in the past and we spent many good days together. We have been together all along!
Φούρνος να μην καπνίζει.
Literal translation: The oven will not be smoking.
Figurative meaning: I can't care less!
Origin: The idiom indicates that the oven already has its duty of burning wood or such materials. The oven will not be interested in an unuseful task. The idiom is always used in a negative sense.
Category: Not frequently used at all
Παράδειγμα: Φούρνος να μην καπνίζει, κάνε ότι θες!
Example: I can't care less, do whatever you want!
Χάφτω μύγες.
Literal translation: To eat flies.
Figurative meaning: To be a dumb bunny. To believe in everything.
Παράδειγμα: Χάφτω μύγες, πίστεψα σε ό, τι είπε.
Example: I am really a dumb bunny, I believed in everything he said.