![]() The phrase seems to derive from a tradition in ancient Babylonia, (adapted in Byzantium) which says that if the king wants to replace or dismiss a lord from his duties, he would send him a pair of shoes with his name underneath.Ī relevant expression: “σε γράφω στα παλιά μου τα παπούτσια” (se grafo sta palia mou ta papoutsia- I am writing to you on my old shoes). ![]() People knocked on the trees to invoke the protection of the nymphs.Ģ) ‘’Του έδωσε τα παπούτσια στο χέρι’’ (Tou edose ta papoutsia sto heri- he was given his shoes in hand)Ī commonly used phrase for someone who got fired. The story behind this expression goes back to ancient times when people used to believe that nymphs (called ‘Δρυάδες ή Άμαδρυάδες) lived inside trees. Let’s see some of them! 1) ‘’ Χτύπα ξύλο’’ (Htipa ksilo- knock wood):Īn expression that Greeks use to avoid bad luck or to wish that something won’t happen to them. Many of these expressions, with roots from Ancient Greece and Byzantium, show us another way of thinking and living. Well, many of these phrases and expressions can contain a small story aimed at teaching us, imply something that we don’t want to say directly, or help us to express ourselves. If you literally translate them they do not make much sense! Weird, right? Now, you are thinking… if they don’t make any sense why do Greeks use them and how did they come to be. Daily, Greeks use idiomatic phrases or expressions and you may be surprised when you hear them for the first time.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |