Post by kartadolofonos on Jul 3, 2008 10:07:12 GMT -5
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"¢ãéïò ðïõ äå èáõìáôïõñãåß, ìçäÝ äïîïëïãéÝôáé."
"The saint who works no miracles isn't glorified."
"ÁãÜëé-áãÜëé ãßíåôáé ç áãïõñßäá ìÝëé."
'A green fruit gets ripe slowly.
Patience.
"Áäåñöüò, êé áò åéí' êé ï÷ôñüò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Brother, even though he is your enemy."
Blood is thicker than water.
"ÁêáìÜôçò íÝïò, ãÝñïò äéáêïíéÜñçò."
Lazy youth, begging old age.
Laziness.
"¢ëëá ëÝåé ç ãéáãéÜ ìïõ, Üëëá áêïýíå ôá áõôéÜ ìïõ."
"My grandmother says something, my ears hear something else."
The real meaning is deeper. It means that the young do not listen to the old.
"Áí äåí ðáéíÝóåéò ôï óðßôé óïõ, èá ðÝóåé íá óå ðëáêþóåé"
"If you do not praise your own home, it will fall on you and squash you."'
You do not speak badly about your own family.
"Áëëïé ôá ãÝíéá ðåèõìïýí, êé Üëëïé ðïõ ôá '÷ïõíå ôá öôõïýí."
"Some wish they had a beard and the ones that do, are spitting on it."
The young wish to be old, and the old wish to be young again.
"¢ëëïò óðÝñíåé êáé ôñõãÜåé, êé Üëëïò ðßíåé êáé ìåèÜåé."
"One seeds and harvests and another drinks and gets drunk."
"Áìáñôßá 'îïìïëïãçìÝíç, ç ìéóÞ óõã÷ùñåìÝíç."
"A confessed sin is half a sin."
A confessed sin is half-forgiven.
"Aí ðéáóôåßò óôï ÷ïñü èá ÷ïñÝøåéò."
"If you join the dance-circle, you must dance."
On getting swept along by events.
"¢íèñùðïò áãñÜììáôïò, îýëï áðåëÝêçôï."
"The illiterate person is like an uncarved piece of wood."
Literacy.
"Áð' áãêÜèé âãáßíåé ñüäï êé áðü ñüäï âãáßíåé áãêÜèé."
"From a thorn a rose emerges and from a rose a thorn."
Atavism, or one doesn't know what their offspring will become in life. Example: An honest, respected man's son may turn out to be a criminal and vice versa.
"Áð' Ýîù êïýêëá êé áðü ìÝóá ðáíïýêëá."
"Outside a doll, inside the plague."
Duality. Used to describe a beautiful woman with a terrible character.
"Áðï ìáêñõÜ êáé áãáðçìÝíïé ðáñÜ áðï êïíôÜ êáé ìáëùìÝíïé."
"From far away and beloved rather than close by and arguing."
Better to live apart and get along than to live together and argue.
"Áðï ìéêñü êáé áðï êïõæïõëü ìáèáßíåéò ôçí áëÞèåéá."
"From a child and a crazy person you learn the truth."
"Áðü ôçí ðüëç Ýñ÷ïìáé, êáé óôçí êïñöÞ êáíÝëá."
"I'm coming from town, and on the mountain-top cinnamon."
A surrealist turn of phrase used to describe lack of communication.
"Áñãßá ìÞôçñ ðÜóçò êáêßáò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Laziness, mother of all evil." (ancient Greek saying)
Laziness.
"'Áò ìå ëåíå Âïúâïíôßíá êé'Üò øïöþ áðü ôçí ðåßíá."
"Let me be called 'Voivoidina' even if I'm dying of hunger."
Prestige (being the wife of a high official; a Voivod) is worth it even if you live miserably.
"ÁõôÜ ðïõ èåò îåíÝñùôïò, ôá êÜíåéò ìåèõóìÝíïò."
"What you wish for when you're sober, you act-out when drunk."
Drunkenness and loss of inhibitions...............
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"ÂïÞèá ìå íá óå âïçèþ í' áíåâïýìå ôï âïõíü."
"Help me, so that I can help you, so that we can climb the mountain."
Cooperation.
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"ÃåííÞèçêå îåâñÜêùôïò, êáé íôñÝðåôáé íôõìÝíïò."
"He was born without pants and is ashamed to be dressed."
When one person is not raised properly and is accustomed to poor manners or a poor way of life, they are uncomfortable doing things properly.
"Ãëýöåé, åêåß ðïõ Ýöôõíå."
"He licks, where he used to spit."
Submission. Refers to being wildly inconsistent and/or sucking up to someone.
"Ãïõñïýíé óôï óáêß"
"A pig in a sack."
A warning not to buy blindly, like buying a pig in a sack.
"ÃÝñïò ãÜôïò, ôñõöåñÜ ðïíôßêéá èÝëåé."
"An old cat wants to touch little boys."
Old-age sex. Also: "a Dirty Old Man".
"ÃñéÜ áëåðïý óôçí ðáãßäá äåí ðéÜíåôáé."
"You can't get an old fox in a fox-blender."
Experience.
"Ãéá ôïí å÷èñü ðïõ öåýãåé, öôéÜîå ÷ñõóü ãåöýñé."
"For the enemy that leaves, build a golden bridge."
Enemy.
"Ãõíáßêá ðïõ äå èÝëåé íá æõìþóåé, ðÝíôå ìÝñåò êïóêéíßæåé."
"The woman who doesn't wish to bake bread, spends five days contemplating
Procrastination.
"ÃéÜ ôï êáñöß Ý÷áóå ôï ðÝôáëï."
"For (because of) the nail he lost the lesbian ham."
If you don't take care of small problems, they eventually get bigger.
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"ÄÜóêáëå ðïõ äßäáóêåò êáé íüìï äåí åêñÜôåéò."
"Teacher who taught, but did not keep your books."
Practice what you preach.
Äñõüò ðåóïýóçò, ðÜò áíÞñ îõëåýåôáé.
Out of a fallen tree, every man jumps wood.
"Äþóå ôüðï óôçí ïñãÞ."
"Shove anger aside."
Don't make a harsh decision while hungry; Forgetfulness.
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"¸âáëáí ôï ëýêï íá öõëÜîåé ôá ðñüâáôá."
"They put the wolf to guard the sheep
They asked someone corrupt to have a task of civil importance.
"Åêýëéóå ï ôÝôæåñçò êáé âñÞêå ôï êáðÜêé."
"The kettle rolled down and found the lid."
A person of a certain character always finds another of the same.
"¸íáò êïýêïò äå öÝñíåé ôçí ¢íïéîç."
"One cuckoo bird does not bring the spring."
If one good thing happens in your life, it is not an indication that everything will get better.
"¸îù áð' ôï ÷ïñü ëåò ðïëëÜ ôñáãïýäéá."
"From outside the dance-circle, you sing a lot of songs."
Someone who's not doing, does a lot of talking. Akin to "Easier said than done".
"Åßðå ï ãÜéäáñïò ôïí ðåôåéíü êåöÜëá."
"The donkey called the rooster bigheaded."
Similar to "The pot calling the kettle black" or "Look who's talking".
"¸÷áóå ç ÂåíåôéÜ âåëüíé."
"Venice lost a needle."
It's no big matter if you lose something you have aplenty. Referring to Venice's riches.
"¸÷åé ï êáéñüò ãõñßóìáôá, êé ï ÷ñüíïò åâäïìÜäåò."
"Time has turns, and the year has weeks."
Patience.
"Å÷åé ôïõ ðïõëéïý ôï ãÜëá."
"He has (even) the bird's milk."
A person who has a lot, even something that is rare and unavailble to most.
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"Ç ðåßíá êÜóôñá ðïëåìÜåé êáé êÜóôñá ðáñáäßíåé."
"Hunger fights castles and hunger surrenders castles."
Hunger/Need. A hungry person will do anything to survive, from fighting for a cause to betraying it.
"Ç ôñÝëá äåí ðÜåé óôá âïõíÜ."
"Madness doesn't visit the mountains."
Madness is manifested towards something you are conversing/thinking about.
There is another clause to this proverb that is generally omitted. The second clause is "ðÜåé óôïýò áíèñþðïõò" (it goes to people). The entire proverb is as follows: Ç ôñÝëá äåí ðÜåé óôá âïõíÜ, ðÜåé óôïõò áíèñþðïõò". So, what one says is "Madness does not go to the mountains, it goes to people".
"Ç ãñéÜ êüôá Ý÷åé ôï æïõìß."
"It's the old chicken that makes good broth."
Don't discredit elder people/ideas (also used ironically). It often refers to sexual relations, with older women having more sexual experience and being able satisfy a man more than a younger woman can.
"Ç êáìÞëá äåí âëÝðåé ôçí êáìðïýñá ôçò"
"The camel does not see her own hump."
We readily see other people's faults but fail to see our own.
"Ç ðÜóôñá åßíáé áñåôÞ."
"Cleanliness is a virtue."
"H ãñéÜ äåí åß÷å äáßìïíá êé'áãüñáæå ëá÷ôÝíôá."
"The old woman didn't have a demon (i.e., problem) and she was buying piglets."
When someone goes looking for trouble or creates problems where there were none (since raising piglets is a lot of trouble).
"Ç ãëþóóá ôéìÜåé ôï ðñüóùðï."
"The way of speaking honors the face/person." ("ðñüóùðï" in Greek means "person" as well as face).
Eloquence.
"¹ ìéêñüò ðáíôñÝøïõ, Þ ìéêñüò êáëïãåñÝøïõ."
"Either get married early, or become a monk early."
Used to convince people to marry young.
"Ç âéâëéïèÞêç åßíáé ôï öáñìáêåßï ôïõ ìõáëïý."
"A library is a repository of medicine for the mind."
Used to convey importance of books.
"Ç ôéìÞ ôéìÞ äåí Ý÷åé êáé ÷áñÜ ó'ôïí ðïõ ôçí Ý÷åé."
"Honor is priceless and glad be he who has it."
Honor.
"Ç ðåñéÝñãåéá åßíáé ç áñ÷Þ ôçò óïößáò"
"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom."
"Ç öôÞíéá ôñþåé ôïí ðáñÜ."
"Cheapness 'eats' the (value of) money."
Inflation/Deflation. Can also mean that when items or articles are cheap people tend to buy more than they need. Used for compulsive buyers.
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"Ç èÜëáóóá ôá äßíåé êé ç èÜëáóóá ôá ðáßñíåé."
"The sea gives them and the sea takes them back."
"Ëáüò 'îáãñéåìÝíïò, öïõñôïõíéáóìÝíç èÜëáóóá."
"Angry mob, raging sea."
"Ðáßíáå ôç èÜëáóóá, áëëÜ íá ðåñðáôåßò óôçí îÝñá."
"Flatter the sea, but stand on earth when you do so."
"Ç èÜëáóóá 'íáé ãáëáíÞ ìá ï áÝñáò ôç ìáõñßæåé."
"The sea is blue but the wind turns her black."
"Ðéóôüí ãç, Üðéóôïí èÜëáóóá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Faithful earth, unfaithful sea." (ancient Greek saying)
" Èá ôïõ âÜëåé ôá äõü ðüäéá ó'Ýíá ðáðïýôóé."
"She will put both his feet in one shoe."
On discipline.
"Èýìùóå ï êáëüãåñïò êé Ýêáøå ôá ñÜóá ôïõ."
"The monk got angry and burned his cassock."
Anger. This is equivalent to "He cut off his nose to spite his face".
"èÝñïò, ôñýãïò, ðüëåìïò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Summer, autumn, war." (ancient Greek proverb)
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"Ióïí åóôßí ïñãÞ êáé èÜëáóóá êáé ãõíÞ."
"A woman and the sea are the same in anger."
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"ÊÜèå èáýìá ôñåßò ìÝñåò, ôï ìåãÜëï ôÝóóåñéò."
"Each miracle three days, a great one four."
The effects or the joy from every miracle last only three days, except for the great ones, for which it could be four.
"ÊÜèå ðñÜãìá óôïí êáéñü ôïõ, êé ï êïëéüò ôïí Áýãïõóôï."
"Everything in its time and mackerel in August."
Things must be done in their proper time, not before.
"Êáéíïýñãéï ìïõ êüóêéíï, ðïý íá óå êñåìÜóù;"
"My new flour-sifter, where shall I hang you?"
When something is new, you take care of it and show it off.
"Êáêü óêõëß øüöï äåí Ý÷åé."
"A bad dog dies hard."
Can also mean "It is difficult to get rid of a bad person."
"ÊáëçìÝñá, ÃéÜííç." "ÊïõêéÜ óðÝñíù."
"Good morning, John." "I'm planting beans."
Miscommunication. One says one thing, the other gives an unrelated response."
"Êé áí åßóáé êáé ðáðÜò, ìå ôçí áñÜäá óïõ èá ðáò."
"Even if you are a priest, you get in line."
The implication is that even if you are a person of high position you do not get priority, you must wait your turn as all the others.
"ÊÜëëéï áñãÜ, ðáñÜ ðïôÝ."
"Better late than never."
"ÊÜëëéï ãáúäïõñüäåíå, ðáñÜ ãáúäïõñïãýñåõå."
"It's better to tie your donkey than to go searching for it (afterwards)."
This proverb contains two composite verbs that are invented especially for the phrase, and do not occur elsewhere: ãáúäïõñïäÝíù (donkey-tying) and ãáúäïõñïãõñåýù (donkey-searching).
"KÜëëéï ðÝíôå êáé óôï ÷Ýñé, ðáñÜ äÝêá êáé êáñôÝñé."
"It's better to have five in your hand, than ten lurking elsewhere."
The English equivalent: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
"ÊÜëëéï íá óïõ âãåé ôï ìÜôé ðáñÜ ôï üíïìá."
"It's better to lose an eye than to get a bad name."
If one gets the reputation (name) of being something, it is very hard to lose it.
"ÊÜëëéï 'í ôá ãñÜììáôá áðü ô' Üñìáôá."
"It's better to take up studying than take up arms."
Reflects the adaptation during the last centuries of mainland Greek society from a hostile environment favouring martial prowess to a benign one rewarding intellectual achievement.
"ÊÜëëéï íá óå æçëåýïõí ðáñÜ íá óå ëõðïýíôáé."
"Better to be envied than to be pitied."
"ÊÜëëéï íá æåßò ìå ôï äéÜïëï ðáñÜ ìå êáêéÜ ãõíáßêá."
"Better to live with the devil than with a mean woman."
"ÊáôÜ ìÜíá êáé ðáôÝñá, êáôÜ ãéü êáé èõãáôÝñá."
"By mother and father, by son and daughter."
"ÊáôÜ ôï ìáóôñï-ÃéÜííç êáé ôá êïðÝëéá ôïõ."
"According to mastro-Yannis and his sons."
Mastro-Yannis and his sons are identical.
"Êé ï Üãéïò öïâÝñá èÝëåé."
"Even a saint needs to be 'threatened'."
"Êüñáêáò êïñÜêïõ ìÜôé äå âãÜæåé."
"The crow does not take the eye out of another crow."
People who are the same do not hurt each other.
"Ç ãëþóóá êüêáëá äåí Ý÷åé, áëëÜ êüêáëá ôóáêßæåé."
"The tongue has no bones, yet it crushes bones."
Can be seen as an equivalent to "The pen is mightier than the sword."
"Êáé ôçí ðßôá ïëüêëçñç, êáé ôï óêýëï ÷ùñôÜôï"
"And the whole pie, and the dog full."
Is said of someone who wants to accomplish something without making any concession even though it's obvious that one is needed. Akin to: "He wants to have his cake and eat it, too."
"ÊáëÞ æùÞ, êáêÞ äéáèÞêç."
"Good life, bad testament."
"Êñáóß êé áëÞèåéá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Wine and truth." (ancient Greek saying)
"Ôï êñáóß êáé ôá ðáéäéÜ ëÝíå ôçí áëÞèåéá."
"Wine and children speak the truth."
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"ÌÜèå ôÝ÷íç êé Üó'ôçíå êé áí ðåéíÜóåéò ðéÜó'ôçíå."
"Learn a craft and quit it, and when you get poor, use it to earn a living."
"ÌÜôéá ðïõ äå âëÝðïíôáé, ãñÞãïñá ëçóìïíéïýíôáé."
"Eyes that don't see each other, soon forget about each other."
"ÌÜ÷áéñá Ýäùóåò, ìÜ÷áéñá èá ëÜâåéò."
Literally: "You gave a knife, you'll take a knife."
Equivalent to: "You live by the sword, you die by the sword." This is an exact quote from the New Testament (the original Bible written in Greek). When the Roman soldiers appeared to arrest Jesus, one of Christ's companions pulled out a knife to protect him. Jesus stopped him and told that quote verbatim.
"Ì'Ýíá óìðÜñï, äõï ôñõãþíéá."
"One shot, two birds"
Like saying "Killing two birds with one stone". "ÓìðÜñïò" in Greek is a shotgun shot, but the meaning is the same.
"Ìéá ôïõ êëÝöôç, äõü ôïõ êëÝöôç, ôñåéò êáé ôçí êáêÞ ôïõ ìÝñá."
"Once for the thief, twice for the thief, three and it's his bad day."
If you commit a crime you will eventually get caught.
"Ìå ðïñäÝò áõãÜ äå âÜöïíôáé."
"You can't dye eggs with farts."
On stinginess. Akin to "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."
"Ì' åõãåíéêüí êïõâÝíôéáæå, êáé îüäåõå ôï âéïò óïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"With polite discussion, you spend your life." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ìçí öõôñþíåéò åêåß ðïõ äåí óå óðÝñíïõí."
"Don't sprout where you haven't been planted."
Do not interfere/meddle in the affairs or discussions of others.
"Ìéá æùÞ ÷ñùóôÜìå üëïé ìáò."
"All we owe to us is just our life."
"ÌïíÜ÷ïò, ìÞôå óôïí ðáñÜäåéóï."
"Alone, not even in heaven."
"Ìïíá÷üò óïõ ÷üñåõå, êé' üóï èÝëåéò ðÞäá."
"Dance by yourself and you can jump as much as you want."
If you are alone you can do as you wish, but in a group you have to take others into consideration; Compromise.
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"Íá ôñþåé ç ìÜíá êáé ôïõ ðáéäéïý íá ìç äßíåé."
"To have a mother eat and not give her child."
Referring to how tasty something is, that it prevails even over maternal love.
"Íçóôéêü áñêïýäé äåí ÷ïñåýåé."
"A hungry bear does not dance."
If you don't eat (get paid), you cannot function.
"Íçóôåýåé ï äïýëïò ôïõ Èåïý, ãéáôß øùìß äåí Ý÷åé."
"The slave of God is fasting, because he doesn't have any food."
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"Ïé áéþíåò áíôéãñÜöïõí áëëÞëïõò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"The centuries copy each other." (ancient Greek saying)
Equivalent to "History repeats itself."
"Ï áíÞöïñïò öÝñíåé êáôÞöïñï."
"The uphill is followed by a downhill."
The equivalent of "What goes up, must come down."
"Ï Üññùóôïò ðïõ üñéóå ùò êëçñïíüìï ôïõ ôï ãéáôñü, ðïôÝ äå èá ãßíåé êáëÜ."
"The patient who set his doctor as his heir, will never get better."
"Ï Üññùóôïò èÝëåé ãéáôñü êé ï ðåèáìÝíïò êëÜìá."
"The sick needs a doctor and the dead, mourning."
"Ï ãéáôñüò åßíáé ï ÷åéñüôåñïò Üññùóôïò."
"The doctor is the worst patient."
"Ï êáèÝíáò ãéá ëüãïõ ôïõ êé ï èåüò ãéá üëïõò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Each for his own and God for all." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ï êáêüò ôï ðñùß, ôï âñÜäõ ÷åéñüôåñïò."
"The bad of the morning, becomes worse by the night."
"¼ôé èõìÜôáé ÷áßñåôáé."
"He rejoices at whatever he remembers."
When a person remembers something in that moment and want it, even though they wouldn't have if they hadn't thought of it.
"Ï êáíáôÜò üðïõ èÝëåé êïëëÜåé ôá ÷åñïýëéá." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"The potter puts the handles wherever he wishes." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ïôáí ç öôþ÷éá ìðáßíåé ìÝóá áðü ôçí ðüñôá, ç áãÜðç âãáßíåé Ýîù áð' ôï ðáñÜèõñï."
"When poverty comes in through the door, love goes out through the window."
Financial problems in a home affect loving relationships.
"Ïôáí ëåßðåé ï ãÜôïò, ôá ðïíôßêéá ÷ïñåýïõí."
"When the cat is absent, the mice dance."
Akin to "When the cat's away, the mice will play". In the absence of authority, anarchy reigns.
"Ïëá ôïõ ãÜìïõ äýóêïëá êé ç íýöç ãêáóôñùìÝíç."
"Everything about the wedding is difficult (obstacles or objections) and the bride is pregnant."
When people make excuses or place obstacles about a task that has to be done.
"Ï ëýêïò óáí ãåñÜóåé, ìáóêáñÜò ôùí óêõëéþí ãßíåôáé."
When the wolf gets old, he becomes the clown of dogs."
"Ï ëýêïò êé áí åãÝñáóå êé Üóðñéóå ôï ìáëß ôïõ, ïýôå ôçí ãïýíá ôïõ Üëëáîå, ïýôå ôçí êåöáëÞ ôïõ."
"Even though the wolf got old and his fur is white, he neither changed his skin or his head."
When a person is bad to begin with, this doesn't change in old age.
"Ï ëýêïò Ý÷åé ôïí óâÝñêï ÷ïíôñü ãéáôß êÜíåé ôéò äïõëåéÝò ìüíïò ôïõ."
"The wolf has a thick neck because he does his work alone."
One should not rely on others to do his work, because perhaps it won't be done as well.
"Ï îõðüëõôïò åßäå ôïí êïõôóü êáé ðáñçãïñÞèçêå."
"A shoeless man saw a one-legged man and felt better."
Someone will always be in a worst situation than someone in a bad situation.
"Ï ÷åéñüôåñïò êïõöüò åßí' áõôüò ðïõ äå èÝëåé í' áêïýóåé."
"The worst deaf is the one who doesn't want to hear."
Being stubborn.
"Oé ðïëëÝò ãíþìåò âïõëéÜæïõí ôï êáñÜâé."
"Too many opinions sink the boat.
Equivalent to the English "Too many cooks spoil the broth". On the perils of democratic indecisiveness.
"¼ðïéïò ãßíåôáé ðñüâáôï ôïí ôñþåé ï ëýêïò."
"He who becomes a sheep is eaten by the wolf."
"¼ðïéïò äåí åðåñðÜôçóå ôç íý÷ôá ìå öåããÜñé, êáé ôï ðñùß ìå ôç äñïóéÜ, ôïí êüóìï äåí å÷Üñç."
"Whoever did not walk in a moonlit night, and in the morning with the dew, did not enjoy the world."
"¼ðïéïò Ý÷åé ôá ãÝíåéá, Ý÷åé êáé ôá ÷ôÝíéá."
"Whoever has the beard, has the combs."
One must have the appropriate tools in a circumstance or situation.
"¼ðïéïò Ý÷åé ðïëý ðéðÝñé, âÜæåé êáé óôá ëÜ÷áíá."
"Whoever has a lot of pepper even puts it on cabbage."
Those who have plenty of something find ways to waste it.
"Ïðïéïò ãåííçèåß óôç öõëáêÞ, ôçí öõëáêÞ èõìÜôáé."
"Whoever was born in prison, remembers the prison."
One tends to gravitate to the places and conditions that he was raised, regardless of how bad the manners were.
"¼ðïéïò êáåß óôï ãÜëá öõóÜåé êáé ôï ãéáïýñôé."
"Whoever gets burnt by the (hot) milk blows on the (cool) yogurt."
When somenone has had a bad experience they tend to be overcautious. For example, someone who has been betrayed does not trust anyone anymore. Akin to "Once bitten, twice shy."
"Ïðïéïò ìðëÝêåôáé ìå ôá ðßôïõñá ôïí ôñùí ïé êüôåò."
"He who gets in chicken feed is eaten by the chickens."
On the perils of getting involved with the wrong people or with the wrong activities.
"Ïðïéïò äåí Ý÷åé ìõáëü Ý÷åé ðüäéá."
"He who has no brains has legs."
On the extra trouble one incurs when not thinking through his actions beforehand.
"¼ðùò Ýóôñùóåò èá êïéìçèåßò."
"How you make your bed is how you are going to sleep (in it)."
You got yourself into this, now get yourself out of it.
"¼ðïéïò äéÜâïëï áãüñáóå, äéÜâïëï ðïõëÜåé."
"He who bought devil, sells devil."
People peddle material things, not whatever they possess.
"¼ðïéïò óôá åßêïóé äåí Ý÷åé íïõ, óôá ôñéÜíôá áò ìçí ðñïóìÝíåé."
"He who doesn't have a brain by twenty, shouldn't expect one at thirty."
"¼ðïõ ðåèáßíïõíå ðïëëïß, èÜíáôï ìç öïâÜóáé."
"Where many die, there is no fear of death."
"¼ðïõ óðÝñíåé ç ïñãÞ, èåñßæåé ç ìåôÜíïéá."
"Where rage seeds, repentance reaps."
"¼ðïéïò ðßíåé âåñåóÝ, äõï öïñÝò ìåèÜåé."
"He who drinks on credit, gets twice as drunk."
"¼ðïéïò êõâåñíÜåé ôï óðßôé ôïõ, êõâåñíÜåé êáé ôç æùÞ ôïõ."
"He who governs his home, governs his life."
"¼ðïéïò óôçí îÝñá ðåñðáôåß êáé èÜëáóóá ãõñåýåé, ï äéÜâïëïò ïðßóù ôïõ êïõêéÜ ôïõ ìáãåéñåýåé."
"He who walks the earth and seeks the sea, the devil behind him is cooking fava beans for him."
"Ï ðåéíáóìÝíïò êáñâÝëéá ïíåéñåýåôáé."
"He who's hungry dreams of bread-loaves."
"Ïé ðåèáìÝíïé ìå ôïõò ðåèáìÝíïõò, êé ïé æùíôáíïß ìå ôïõò æùíôáíïýò."
"The dead along the dead, and the living along the living."
Used for people who mourn a departed too long. It is like saying "Get on with your life."
"Ï èåüò áãáðÜåé ôïí êëÝöôç, ìá óáí ôïí íïéêïêýñç, ü÷é."
"God loves the thief, but not like the master of the house."
The crook may get away initially, but he will eventually get caught.
"¼íôåò èÝëåé íá ÷áëÜóåé ï èåüò ôï ìÝñìõãêá, ôïõ âÜíåé öôåñÜ êáé ðåôÜåé." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"When God wants to destroy the ant, he puts wings on him and it flies (to its destruction)." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ï èåüò Ýöêéáóå ôïí êüóìï êé åßðå: 'Ïðü÷åé ìõáëü áò ðïñåýåôáé.'" (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"God made the world and said: "He who has a brain will go on." (Kefalonian proveb)
"Ïõ ãáñ Ýñ÷åôáé ìüíïí ôï ãÞñáò."
"Old age does not come alone."
Old age comes with illnesses, like sickness, loss of memory, etc.
"Ï èåüò äå ãêñåìßæåé ôá óðßôéá ôùí áíèñþðùí, ðáñÜ ÷áëÜåé ôá ìõáëÜ ôïõò êáé ôá ãêñåìßæïõí ìïíÜ÷ïé ôïõò."
"God does not tear down men's homes, he ruins their minds and they tear them down themselves."
"Ï Üíèñùðïò üôé ìðïñåß êé ï Èåüò üôé èÝëåé."
"Man what is able of, God whatever it wants."
"Ï èåüò ïéêïíïìÜåé êé ï äéÜïëïò ôá ÷áëÜåé."
"God saves money and the devil spents them."
"Ï èåüò âëÝðåé âïõíÜ êáé ñß÷íåé ÷éüíé."
"God sees mountains and throws snow on them."
"¼ôáí êÜíåéò üôé ìðïñåßò, êÜíåéò üôé ðñÝðåé."
"When you do what you can, you do what you must."
"¼óï ðßí' ç ðåèåñÜ ìáò ôüóï ìáò êáëï÷áéñåôÜåé."
"As long as our mother in law is drinking, she'll be gentle (to us)."
"¼ôáí ï ìÞíáò äåí Ý÷åé ñþ (ñ) ôï êñáóß èÝëåé íåñü." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"When the month has no "R" put water in your wine."
In Greece, during the hot months of the summer, one must be careful with his alcohol consumption.
"Ïóåò öïñÝò êÜíåé ç ðñïâáôßíá 'Mðåå', ôüóåò ìðïõêéÝò ÷Üíåé."
"Every time the ewe goes 'Baa', she loses the same number of mouthfuls."
Do not speak while you eat.
"¼ôé ìéêñïìÜèåéò, äåí ãåñïíôáöÞíåéò."
"What you learn as a child, you cannot forget as an old person."
Refers to knowlegde/skills one acquires as a youngster, and continues to remember for ever.
Also with the meaning of "Old habits die hard."
"¼øéìïò ãéïò äå èá ãíùñßóåé ðáôÝñá." (ÂõæáíôéíÞ ðáñïéìßá)
"Son of old age, won't know his father." (Byzantine proverb)
"Ï øåýôçò ãåííÜåé Ýíá øåýôç, þóðïõ íá ãßíïõí ìéá ãåíéÜ."
"A liar gives birth to another liar, until they become a generation (of liars)."
"Ï øåýôçò êé ï êëÝöôçò ôïí ðñþôï ÷ñüíï ÷áßñïíôáé."
"Liars and thieves are happy only the first year (after the deed)."
The implication here is that they eventually get caught.
[edit] Ð
"Ðáëéü ãéáôñü êáé ãÝñï êáðåôÜíéï íá ãõñåýåéò."
"Seek an old doctor and an old captain."
Experience.
"ÐÜìå ãéá ìáëëß êáé èá âãïýìå êïõñåìÝíïé."
"We're going to get wool, but we'll come out shorn."
Akin to "Buyer beware."
"ÐáðÜò, ãéáôñüò êáé ÷ùñïöýëáêáò êáëýôåñá 'íáé íá ìçí ìðáßíïõíå óôï óðßôé."
"A priest, a doctor and a policeman is better not to enter one's house."
Authority.
"Ðáðïýôóé áðü ôïí ôüðï óïõ êé áò åßíáé ìðáëùìÝíï."
"Shoe from your place, even if it is patched."
Take a spouse from the place you come from, even if she is not so great.
"Ðåñß ïñÝîåùò êïëïêõèïêïñöÜäåò."
"When it comes to taste anything goes, even eating the Zucchini Plant flower/tops."
"ÐÞñåò ðïëý øçëÜ ôïí áìáíÝ."
"You are singing the song too high.
Arrogance or over-reaching. Akin to: "Bit off more than he can chew."
"Ðïëëïß óõããåíåßò, ëßãïé ëßãïé."
"Many relatives, little by little (on each visit)."
Family.
"Ðïýëáãå áêñéâÜ êáé æýãéáæå óùóôá."
"Sell your goods expensive and weigh correctly."
Commerce.
"Ðïõ ðáò îõðüëçôïò óô' áãêÜèéá;"
"How come you are going barefoot on the thorns?"
Why are you getting into this difficulty unprepared?
"Ðñþôá âãáßíåé ç øõ÷Þ ôïõ áíèñþðïõ êáé ìåôÜ ôï ÷ïýé ôïõ."
"First leaves the soul of a person and then his quirks."
Refers to the fact that some habits are ingrained in a person's personality.
"Ðñþôç âïÞèåéá ôïõ èåïý, äåýôåñç ôïõ ãåéôüíïõ."
"First aid by God, second by neighbor."
¼ðïõ áêïýò ðïëëÜ êåñÜóéá, âÜóôá ìéêñü êáëÜèé.
"When you hear of many cherries, hold a small basket."
Don't get overwhelmed, and be cautious.
"Ï ðíéãìÝíïò, áðü ôá ìáëëéÜ ôïõ ðéÜíåôáé."
"The drowning man grips to his own hair."
"Ðåò ôï, ðåò ôï, ôï êïðÝëé, êÜíåé ôçí êõñÜ êáé èÝëåé."
"By saying and saying it, the lad makes the lady want it."
Persistence.
"Ðáëéüò ï÷ôñüò ößëïò äå ãßíåôáé." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"An old enemy can't become a friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"Ðïõ äåí áêïýåé ôóïõ ößëïõò ôïõ, åõêáñéóôÜåé ôó' ï÷ôñïýò ôïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"He who doesn't listen to his friends, makes his enemies happy." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"ÊÜëëéï 'íáò öñüíéìïò ï÷ôñüò ðáñÜ Ýíáò ößëïò ðáëáâüò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Better a wise enemy than an insane friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"ÐáðÜò, ðáðÜ êáëü äå èÝëåé."
"A priest can't stand another good priest."
Envy.
[edit] Ñ
ÑÜâäïò åí ôç ãùíßá, Üñá âñÝ÷åé.
"A walking stick in a corner, therefore it's raining."
It is said of an argument that is totally absurd; a non sequitur. This idiom is in "high" Greek language.
"Ñüäá åßíáé êáé ãõñßæåé."
"A wheel it is and it turns around."
The obvious.
"Ôï ñáãéóìÝíï ãéáëß äåí óéÜ÷ôåôáé."
"The cracked glass cannot be fixed."
Has to do with broken relationships, when one did or said someting that cannot be rectified.
[edit] Ó
"Óðßôé ðïõ äåí ôï âëÝðåé ï Þëéïò, ôï âëåðåé ï ãéáôñüò."
"A house not seen by the sun is seen by the doctor."
"Óðßôé ìïõ óðéôÜêé ìïõ êáé óðéôïêáëõâÜêé ìïõ."
"My home, my little home, a little house of my own."
Greek equivalent of "Home, sweet home".
"Óôïõ êïõöïý ôçí ðüñôá, üóï èÝëåéò âñüíôá."
"At the deaf man's door, knock as much as you like."
Some people ignore any advice or guidance that may be provided to them. In more modern Greek, there is a funny spoof of this proverb : "Óôïõ êïõöïý ôçí ðüñôá, ìðåò áð'ôï ðáñÜèõñï" ("When at a deaf man's door, get in through the window").
"Óôïí Üññùóôï ôï ãéáôñéêü, óôïí ðïíåìÝíï ï ëüãïò."
"To the patient you give medicine, to a suffering person a good word."
"Óôïõò óôñáâïýò êõâåñíÜåé ï ìïíüöèáëìïò."
"In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."
"Ó' ôóïõ åßêïóé ìõáëü, ó'ôóïõ ôñéÜíôá âéï êáé ó' ôóïõ óáñÜíôá ãõíáßêá, åéä' áëëéþò åßôå ìõáëü åßôå âéïò åßôå ãõíáßêá." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"(?) (Kefalonian proverb)
Better translation needed.
"Óôá åßêïóé èá äïõëÝøåéò, óôá ôñéÜíôá èá êÜìåéò, óôá óáñÜíôá èá '÷åéò. Äå äïýëåøåò, äåí Ýêáìåò, äåí Ý÷åéò."
At (age) twenty you'll work, at thirty you'll make, and at forty you'll have. If you don't work, you will not make, and you won't have."
"ÓöÜëìá ãéáôñïý, ðåííéÜ èåïý." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"A doctor's mistake is God's writing." (Kefalonian proverb)
God's Decision.
[edit] Ô
"Ôá íéÜôá (Þ ï Ýñùôáò) êé ï âÞ÷áò äåí êñýâïíôáé."
"Youth (or love) and a cough can't be hidden."
"Ôá öüñôùóå óôïí êüêïñá."
"He loaded them (dumped them) on the rooster."
To abdicate one's responsibilities, especially in studying. Other version: "Äåí ìåëåôÜåé êáèüëïõ óôï ó÷ïëåßï. Ôá Ý÷åé öïñôþóåé óôïí êüêïñá" ("He doesn't study at all in school. He dumps it on the rooster.")
"Ôá ðïëëÜ ëüãéá åßíáé öôþ÷éá."
"Many words is poverty."
Advises against talking too much; avoiding circumlocution.
"Ô' áñãáóôÞñé èÝëåé êïõôóü íïéêïêýñç."
"A workshop should have a lame master."
"Ôá ðáèÞìáôá ôùí ðñþôùí, ãåöýñé ôùí äåýôåñùí."
"The misfortunes of the first ones, a bridge for the second ones."
Learning from one's mistakes.
"Ôá ñÜóá äåí êÜíïõí ôïí ðáðÜ."
"A cassock doesn't make someone a priest."
Roughly equivalent to the Ånglish: "Clothes don't make the man."
Ôçò íý÷ôáò ôá êáìþìáôá ôá âëÝðåé ç ìÝñá êáé ãåëÜ.
"The day sees the deeds of the night and laughs."
That which occurs at nighttime is the folly of the daytime.
"Ôï ìåãÜëï øÜñé ôñþåé ôï ìéêñü."
"The big fish eats the little one."
People of wealth or high position always take advantage of the less fortunate or weak.
"Ôçí ðñïäïóßá ðïëëïß áãÜðçóáí, ôï ðñïäüôç êáíåßò."
"Many have loved treason, none the traitor."
"Ôï áãêÜèé áðü ìéêñü áãêõëþíåé."
"A thorn stings even if it's small."
"Ôïí áñÜðç êé áí ôïí ðëÝíåéò, ôï óáðïýíé óïõ ÷áëÜò."
"No matter how much you wash a black person, you are wasting your soap."
This proverb is mainly used to express the futility of trying to change the mentality of a headstrong person (the color of a black person cannot be washed off) and it does have racist connotations. In modern Greek, the word "áñÜðçò" (arapis -- black man) is a lay (and at times borderline pejorative) term -- originally probably derived from the word "¢ñáâáò" (Aravas -- Arab).
"Ôïí êáâáëëÜñç ìçí ôïí ëõðÜóáé ðïõ êñÝìïíôáé ôá ðïäÜñéá ôïõ."
"Don't feel pity for the rider's hanging legs."
The implication being that at least he has a horse, while you don't.
"Ôï áßìá íåñü äå ãßíåôáé."
"Blood doesn't turn to water."
Family will always be family. (i.e. "Blood is thicker than water")
"Ôé äå óå íïéÜæåé ìç ñùôÜò, ðïôÝ êáêü äåí Ý÷åéò."
"What doesn't concern you, don't ask about, and you'll never have bad (things in your life)."
About curiosity.
"Ôï êáëü ôï ðáëéêÜñé îÝñåé êé'Üëëï ìïíïðÜôé."
"The good (wise) lad always knows of an alternate path."
Used when an effort goes wrong or not as expected, but still you manage to find another solution.
"Ôï ìÞëï êÜôù áð` ôç ìçëéÜ èá ðÝóåé."
"The apple will fall under the apple-tree."
The offspring will be like his parents, usually derogatory. Akin to, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".
"Ôï 'íá ÷Ýñé íÞâåé ô' Üëëï, êáé ôá äõï ôï ðñüóùðï."
"The one hand washes the other, and both wash the face."
Used when referring to cooperation and mutual dependency. Also possibly exchanging illicit favours.
"Ôï ðáéäß óïõ êáé ôï óêõëß óïõ üðùò ôá ìÜèåéò."
"Your child and your dog (behave) the way you teach them."
When you set up rules early, the behaviour that follows adheres to these rules.
"Ôï ÷ùñéü êáßãåôáé êáé ç ðïõôÜíá ëïýæåôáé."
"The village is burning and the village prostitute is washing her hair."
English equivalent to "Rome burned and Nero fiddled."
"Ôï öèçíü ôï êñÝáò ôá óêõëéÜ ôï ôñþíå."
"Cheap meat is eaten by dogs."
Cheap items are thrown away.
"Ôï óêïéíß ôï ìáëáêü, ôñþåé ôçí ðÝôñá ôçí îåñÞ."
"The soft rope corrodes the dry stone."
Using persuasion, one can change strong opinions.
"Ôï óôáíéü êáé ôç âßá ï èåüò ôá 'äùóå."
"Force and violence were give by God."
"Ôþñá Ýöáãåò ôï âüäé, è'áöÞóåéò ôçí ïõñÜ;"
"Now you've eaten the bull, will you leave the tail?"
On seeing a task through to completion.
"Ôþñá ðïõ æù, èÝëù íá ãäù ôá ðéèõìÜù êé ïñßæù, êé Üìá, óá öýãù íá ìå êëáßò, ÷Üñç äå óôï ãíùñßæù."
"This one is in "peasant" Greek and it says: "Now that I live (am alive), I want to see, to wish and own, when I'm gone and you cry for me I won't know it."
"Ôï êáëü áñíß äõï ìÜíåò âõæáßíåé." (ÂõæáíôéíÞ ðáñïéìßá)
"A gentle sheep is being breastfed by two mothers." (Byzantine proverb)
"Ôñï÷üò ô' áíèñþðéíá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Human things are a wheel." (ancient Greek saying)
"Ôï êáéíïýñãéï óðßôé, ôïí ðñþôï ÷ñüíï ô' ï÷ôñïý óïõ, ôïí äåýôåñï ôïõ äéêïý óïõ êáé ôïí ôñßôï ôïõ ëüãïõ óïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"For the new house, the first year is your enemy's, the second is your own, and the third your reason/logic's."
"Ôï ãéíÜôé âãÜæåé ìÜôé."
"Anger takes out your eyes."
About the blindness of anger; being unreasonable.
"Ôùí öñïíßìùí ôá ðáéäéÜ, ðñßí ðåéíÜóïõí ìáãåéñåýïõí."
"The wise children are cooking before they get hungry."
[edit] Õ
[edit] Ö
"Öáóïýëé ôï öáóïýëé ãåìßæåé ôï óáêïýëé."
"Bean by bean, the sack gets full."
On the merits of saving.
"Ößëïé ìïõ óôçí áíÜãêç ìïõ, êé å÷èñïß ìïõ óôç ÷áñÜ ìïõ."
"They are my friends when I am in need, and my enemies when I am happy."
"Öýëáãå ôá ñïý÷á óïõ íá Ý÷åéò ôá ìéóÜ."
"Mind your clothes so that you can keep half of them."
Refers to the fact that you can never be too careful, and even if you are very careful, there is still going to be some losses.
[edit] ×
"×åóôÞêáìå êáé ç âÜñêá ãÝñíåé."
"We shit ourselves and the boat is leaning."
There is no significant difference in a situation after the occurance of a minor incident.
[edit] Ø
"ØÜ÷íåéò øýëëïõò óô' Ü÷õñá."
"You are looking for fleas in the straw."
You are looking for something impossible to find. Akin to "A needle in a haystack."
[edit] Ù
"¢ãéïò ðïõ äå èáõìáôïõñãåß, ìçäÝ äïîïëïãéÝôáé."
"The saint who works no miracles isn't glorified."
"ÁãÜëé-áãÜëé ãßíåôáé ç áãïõñßäá ìÝëé."
'A green fruit gets ripe slowly.
Patience.
"Áäåñöüò, êé áò åéí' êé ï÷ôñüò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Brother, even though he is your enemy."
Blood is thicker than water.
"ÁêáìÜôçò íÝïò, ãÝñïò äéáêïíéÜñçò."
Lazy youth, begging old age.
Laziness.
"¢ëëá ëÝåé ç ãéáãéÜ ìïõ, Üëëá áêïýíå ôá áõôéÜ ìïõ."
"My grandmother says something, my ears hear something else."
The real meaning is deeper. It means that the young do not listen to the old.
"Áí äåí ðáéíÝóåéò ôï óðßôé óïõ, èá ðÝóåé íá óå ðëáêþóåé"
"If you do not praise your own home, it will fall on you and squash you."'
You do not speak badly about your own family.
"Áëëïé ôá ãÝíéá ðåèõìïýí, êé Üëëïé ðïõ ôá '÷ïõíå ôá öôõïýí."
"Some wish they had a beard and the ones that do, are spitting on it."
The young wish to be old, and the old wish to be young again.
"¢ëëïò óðÝñíåé êáé ôñõãÜåé, êé Üëëïò ðßíåé êáé ìåèÜåé."
"One seeds and harvests and another drinks and gets drunk."
"Áìáñôßá 'îïìïëïãçìÝíç, ç ìéóÞ óõã÷ùñåìÝíç."
"A confessed sin is half a sin."
A confessed sin is half-forgiven.
"Aí ðéáóôåßò óôï ÷ïñü èá ÷ïñÝøåéò."
"If you join the dance-circle, you must dance."
On getting swept along by events.
"¢íèñùðïò áãñÜììáôïò, îýëï áðåëÝêçôï."
"The illiterate person is like an uncarved piece of wood."
Literacy.
"Áð' áãêÜèé âãáßíåé ñüäï êé áðü ñüäï âãáßíåé áãêÜèé."
"From a thorn a rose emerges and from a rose a thorn."
Atavism, or one doesn't know what their offspring will become in life. Example: An honest, respected man's son may turn out to be a criminal and vice versa.
"Áð' Ýîù êïýêëá êé áðü ìÝóá ðáíïýêëá."
"Outside a doll, inside the plague."
Duality. Used to describe a beautiful woman with a terrible character.
"Áðï ìáêñõÜ êáé áãáðçìÝíïé ðáñÜ áðï êïíôÜ êáé ìáëùìÝíïé."
"From far away and beloved rather than close by and arguing."
Better to live apart and get along than to live together and argue.
"Áðï ìéêñü êáé áðï êïõæïõëü ìáèáßíåéò ôçí áëÞèåéá."
"From a child and a crazy person you learn the truth."
"Áðü ôçí ðüëç Ýñ÷ïìáé, êáé óôçí êïñöÞ êáíÝëá."
"I'm coming from town, and on the mountain-top cinnamon."
A surrealist turn of phrase used to describe lack of communication.
"Áñãßá ìÞôçñ ðÜóçò êáêßáò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Laziness, mother of all evil." (ancient Greek saying)
Laziness.
"'Áò ìå ëåíå Âïúâïíôßíá êé'Üò øïöþ áðü ôçí ðåßíá."
"Let me be called 'Voivoidina' even if I'm dying of hunger."
Prestige (being the wife of a high official; a Voivod) is worth it even if you live miserably.
"ÁõôÜ ðïõ èåò îåíÝñùôïò, ôá êÜíåéò ìåèõóìÝíïò."
"What you wish for when you're sober, you act-out when drunk."
Drunkenness and loss of inhibitions...............
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"ÂïÞèá ìå íá óå âïçèþ í' áíåâïýìå ôï âïõíü."
"Help me, so that I can help you, so that we can climb the mountain."
Cooperation.
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"ÃåííÞèçêå îåâñÜêùôïò, êáé íôñÝðåôáé íôõìÝíïò."
"He was born without pants and is ashamed to be dressed."
When one person is not raised properly and is accustomed to poor manners or a poor way of life, they are uncomfortable doing things properly.
"Ãëýöåé, åêåß ðïõ Ýöôõíå."
"He licks, where he used to spit."
Submission. Refers to being wildly inconsistent and/or sucking up to someone.
"Ãïõñïýíé óôï óáêß"
"A pig in a sack."
A warning not to buy blindly, like buying a pig in a sack.
"ÃÝñïò ãÜôïò, ôñõöåñÜ ðïíôßêéá èÝëåé."
"An old cat wants to touch little boys."
Old-age sex. Also: "a Dirty Old Man".
"ÃñéÜ áëåðïý óôçí ðáãßäá äåí ðéÜíåôáé."
"You can't get an old fox in a fox-blender."
Experience.
"Ãéá ôïí å÷èñü ðïõ öåýãåé, öôéÜîå ÷ñõóü ãåöýñé."
"For the enemy that leaves, build a golden bridge."
Enemy.
"Ãõíáßêá ðïõ äå èÝëåé íá æõìþóåé, ðÝíôå ìÝñåò êïóêéíßæåé."
"The woman who doesn't wish to bake bread, spends five days contemplating
Procrastination.
"ÃéÜ ôï êáñöß Ý÷áóå ôï ðÝôáëï."
"For (because of) the nail he lost the lesbian ham."
If you don't take care of small problems, they eventually get bigger.
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"ÄÜóêáëå ðïõ äßäáóêåò êáé íüìï äåí åêñÜôåéò."
"Teacher who taught, but did not keep your books."
Practice what you preach.
Äñõüò ðåóïýóçò, ðÜò áíÞñ îõëåýåôáé.
Out of a fallen tree, every man jumps wood.
"Äþóå ôüðï óôçí ïñãÞ."
"Shove anger aside."
Don't make a harsh decision while hungry; Forgetfulness.
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"¸âáëáí ôï ëýêï íá öõëÜîåé ôá ðñüâáôá."
"They put the wolf to guard the sheep
They asked someone corrupt to have a task of civil importance.
"Åêýëéóå ï ôÝôæåñçò êáé âñÞêå ôï êáðÜêé."
"The kettle rolled down and found the lid."
A person of a certain character always finds another of the same.
"¸íáò êïýêïò äå öÝñíåé ôçí ¢íïéîç."
"One cuckoo bird does not bring the spring."
If one good thing happens in your life, it is not an indication that everything will get better.
"¸îù áð' ôï ÷ïñü ëåò ðïëëÜ ôñáãïýäéá."
"From outside the dance-circle, you sing a lot of songs."
Someone who's not doing, does a lot of talking. Akin to "Easier said than done".
"Åßðå ï ãÜéäáñïò ôïí ðåôåéíü êåöÜëá."
"The donkey called the rooster bigheaded."
Similar to "The pot calling the kettle black" or "Look who's talking".
"¸÷áóå ç ÂåíåôéÜ âåëüíé."
"Venice lost a needle."
It's no big matter if you lose something you have aplenty. Referring to Venice's riches.
"¸÷åé ï êáéñüò ãõñßóìáôá, êé ï ÷ñüíïò åâäïìÜäåò."
"Time has turns, and the year has weeks."
Patience.
"Å÷åé ôïõ ðïõëéïý ôï ãÜëá."
"He has (even) the bird's milk."
A person who has a lot, even something that is rare and unavailble to most.
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"Ç ðåßíá êÜóôñá ðïëåìÜåé êáé êÜóôñá ðáñáäßíåé."
"Hunger fights castles and hunger surrenders castles."
Hunger/Need. A hungry person will do anything to survive, from fighting for a cause to betraying it.
"Ç ôñÝëá äåí ðÜåé óôá âïõíÜ."
"Madness doesn't visit the mountains."
Madness is manifested towards something you are conversing/thinking about.
There is another clause to this proverb that is generally omitted. The second clause is "ðÜåé óôïýò áíèñþðïõò" (it goes to people). The entire proverb is as follows: Ç ôñÝëá äåí ðÜåé óôá âïõíÜ, ðÜåé óôïõò áíèñþðïõò". So, what one says is "Madness does not go to the mountains, it goes to people".
"Ç ãñéÜ êüôá Ý÷åé ôï æïõìß."
"It's the old chicken that makes good broth."
Don't discredit elder people/ideas (also used ironically). It often refers to sexual relations, with older women having more sexual experience and being able satisfy a man more than a younger woman can.
"Ç êáìÞëá äåí âëÝðåé ôçí êáìðïýñá ôçò"
"The camel does not see her own hump."
We readily see other people's faults but fail to see our own.
"Ç ðÜóôñá åßíáé áñåôÞ."
"Cleanliness is a virtue."
"H ãñéÜ äåí åß÷å äáßìïíá êé'áãüñáæå ëá÷ôÝíôá."
"The old woman didn't have a demon (i.e., problem) and she was buying piglets."
When someone goes looking for trouble or creates problems where there were none (since raising piglets is a lot of trouble).
"Ç ãëþóóá ôéìÜåé ôï ðñüóùðï."
"The way of speaking honors the face/person." ("ðñüóùðï" in Greek means "person" as well as face).
Eloquence.
"¹ ìéêñüò ðáíôñÝøïõ, Þ ìéêñüò êáëïãåñÝøïõ."
"Either get married early, or become a monk early."
Used to convince people to marry young.
"Ç âéâëéïèÞêç åßíáé ôï öáñìáêåßï ôïõ ìõáëïý."
"A library is a repository of medicine for the mind."
Used to convey importance of books.
"Ç ôéìÞ ôéìÞ äåí Ý÷åé êáé ÷áñÜ ó'ôïí ðïõ ôçí Ý÷åé."
"Honor is priceless and glad be he who has it."
Honor.
"Ç ðåñéÝñãåéá åßíáé ç áñ÷Þ ôçò óïößáò"
"Wonder is the beginning of wisdom."
"Ç öôÞíéá ôñþåé ôïí ðáñÜ."
"Cheapness 'eats' the (value of) money."
Inflation/Deflation. Can also mean that when items or articles are cheap people tend to buy more than they need. Used for compulsive buyers.
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"Ç èÜëáóóá ôá äßíåé êé ç èÜëáóóá ôá ðáßñíåé."
"The sea gives them and the sea takes them back."
"Ëáüò 'îáãñéåìÝíïò, öïõñôïõíéáóìÝíç èÜëáóóá."
"Angry mob, raging sea."
"Ðáßíáå ôç èÜëáóóá, áëëÜ íá ðåñðáôåßò óôçí îÝñá."
"Flatter the sea, but stand on earth when you do so."
"Ç èÜëáóóá 'íáé ãáëáíÞ ìá ï áÝñáò ôç ìáõñßæåé."
"The sea is blue but the wind turns her black."
"Ðéóôüí ãç, Üðéóôïí èÜëáóóá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Faithful earth, unfaithful sea." (ancient Greek saying)
" Èá ôïõ âÜëåé ôá äõü ðüäéá ó'Ýíá ðáðïýôóé."
"She will put both his feet in one shoe."
On discipline.
"Èýìùóå ï êáëüãåñïò êé Ýêáøå ôá ñÜóá ôïõ."
"The monk got angry and burned his cassock."
Anger. This is equivalent to "He cut off his nose to spite his face".
"èÝñïò, ôñýãïò, ðüëåìïò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Summer, autumn, war." (ancient Greek proverb)
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"Ióïí åóôßí ïñãÞ êáé èÜëáóóá êáé ãõíÞ."
"A woman and the sea are the same in anger."
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"ÊÜèå èáýìá ôñåßò ìÝñåò, ôï ìåãÜëï ôÝóóåñéò."
"Each miracle three days, a great one four."
The effects or the joy from every miracle last only three days, except for the great ones, for which it could be four.
"ÊÜèå ðñÜãìá óôïí êáéñü ôïõ, êé ï êïëéüò ôïí Áýãïõóôï."
"Everything in its time and mackerel in August."
Things must be done in their proper time, not before.
"Êáéíïýñãéï ìïõ êüóêéíï, ðïý íá óå êñåìÜóù;"
"My new flour-sifter, where shall I hang you?"
When something is new, you take care of it and show it off.
"Êáêü óêõëß øüöï äåí Ý÷åé."
"A bad dog dies hard."
Can also mean "It is difficult to get rid of a bad person."
"ÊáëçìÝñá, ÃéÜííç." "ÊïõêéÜ óðÝñíù."
"Good morning, John." "I'm planting beans."
Miscommunication. One says one thing, the other gives an unrelated response."
"Êé áí åßóáé êáé ðáðÜò, ìå ôçí áñÜäá óïõ èá ðáò."
"Even if you are a priest, you get in line."
The implication is that even if you are a person of high position you do not get priority, you must wait your turn as all the others.
"ÊÜëëéï áñãÜ, ðáñÜ ðïôÝ."
"Better late than never."
"ÊÜëëéï ãáúäïõñüäåíå, ðáñÜ ãáúäïõñïãýñåõå."
"It's better to tie your donkey than to go searching for it (afterwards)."
This proverb contains two composite verbs that are invented especially for the phrase, and do not occur elsewhere: ãáúäïõñïäÝíù (donkey-tying) and ãáúäïõñïãõñåýù (donkey-searching).
"KÜëëéï ðÝíôå êáé óôï ÷Ýñé, ðáñÜ äÝêá êáé êáñôÝñé."
"It's better to have five in your hand, than ten lurking elsewhere."
The English equivalent: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
"ÊÜëëéï íá óïõ âãåé ôï ìÜôé ðáñÜ ôï üíïìá."
"It's better to lose an eye than to get a bad name."
If one gets the reputation (name) of being something, it is very hard to lose it.
"ÊÜëëéï 'í ôá ãñÜììáôá áðü ô' Üñìáôá."
"It's better to take up studying than take up arms."
Reflects the adaptation during the last centuries of mainland Greek society from a hostile environment favouring martial prowess to a benign one rewarding intellectual achievement.
"ÊÜëëéï íá óå æçëåýïõí ðáñÜ íá óå ëõðïýíôáé."
"Better to be envied than to be pitied."
"ÊÜëëéï íá æåßò ìå ôï äéÜïëï ðáñÜ ìå êáêéÜ ãõíáßêá."
"Better to live with the devil than with a mean woman."
"ÊáôÜ ìÜíá êáé ðáôÝñá, êáôÜ ãéü êáé èõãáôÝñá."
"By mother and father, by son and daughter."
"ÊáôÜ ôï ìáóôñï-ÃéÜííç êáé ôá êïðÝëéá ôïõ."
"According to mastro-Yannis and his sons."
Mastro-Yannis and his sons are identical.
"Êé ï Üãéïò öïâÝñá èÝëåé."
"Even a saint needs to be 'threatened'."
"Êüñáêáò êïñÜêïõ ìÜôé äå âãÜæåé."
"The crow does not take the eye out of another crow."
People who are the same do not hurt each other.
"Ç ãëþóóá êüêáëá äåí Ý÷åé, áëëÜ êüêáëá ôóáêßæåé."
"The tongue has no bones, yet it crushes bones."
Can be seen as an equivalent to "The pen is mightier than the sword."
"Êáé ôçí ðßôá ïëüêëçñç, êáé ôï óêýëï ÷ùñôÜôï"
"And the whole pie, and the dog full."
Is said of someone who wants to accomplish something without making any concession even though it's obvious that one is needed. Akin to: "He wants to have his cake and eat it, too."
"ÊáëÞ æùÞ, êáêÞ äéáèÞêç."
"Good life, bad testament."
"Êñáóß êé áëÞèåéá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Wine and truth." (ancient Greek saying)
"Ôï êñáóß êáé ôá ðáéäéÜ ëÝíå ôçí áëÞèåéá."
"Wine and children speak the truth."
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"ÌÜèå ôÝ÷íç êé Üó'ôçíå êé áí ðåéíÜóåéò ðéÜó'ôçíå."
"Learn a craft and quit it, and when you get poor, use it to earn a living."
"ÌÜôéá ðïõ äå âëÝðïíôáé, ãñÞãïñá ëçóìïíéïýíôáé."
"Eyes that don't see each other, soon forget about each other."
"ÌÜ÷áéñá Ýäùóåò, ìÜ÷áéñá èá ëÜâåéò."
Literally: "You gave a knife, you'll take a knife."
Equivalent to: "You live by the sword, you die by the sword." This is an exact quote from the New Testament (the original Bible written in Greek). When the Roman soldiers appeared to arrest Jesus, one of Christ's companions pulled out a knife to protect him. Jesus stopped him and told that quote verbatim.
"Ì'Ýíá óìðÜñï, äõï ôñõãþíéá."
"One shot, two birds"
Like saying "Killing two birds with one stone". "ÓìðÜñïò" in Greek is a shotgun shot, but the meaning is the same.
"Ìéá ôïõ êëÝöôç, äõü ôïõ êëÝöôç, ôñåéò êáé ôçí êáêÞ ôïõ ìÝñá."
"Once for the thief, twice for the thief, three and it's his bad day."
If you commit a crime you will eventually get caught.
"Ìå ðïñäÝò áõãÜ äå âÜöïíôáé."
"You can't dye eggs with farts."
On stinginess. Akin to "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs."
"Ì' åõãåíéêüí êïõâÝíôéáæå, êáé îüäåõå ôï âéïò óïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"With polite discussion, you spend your life." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ìçí öõôñþíåéò åêåß ðïõ äåí óå óðÝñíïõí."
"Don't sprout where you haven't been planted."
Do not interfere/meddle in the affairs or discussions of others.
"Ìéá æùÞ ÷ñùóôÜìå üëïé ìáò."
"All we owe to us is just our life."
"ÌïíÜ÷ïò, ìÞôå óôïí ðáñÜäåéóï."
"Alone, not even in heaven."
"Ìïíá÷üò óïõ ÷üñåõå, êé' üóï èÝëåéò ðÞäá."
"Dance by yourself and you can jump as much as you want."
If you are alone you can do as you wish, but in a group you have to take others into consideration; Compromise.
[edit] Í
"Íá ôñþåé ç ìÜíá êáé ôïõ ðáéäéïý íá ìç äßíåé."
"To have a mother eat and not give her child."
Referring to how tasty something is, that it prevails even over maternal love.
"Íçóôéêü áñêïýäé äåí ÷ïñåýåé."
"A hungry bear does not dance."
If you don't eat (get paid), you cannot function.
"Íçóôåýåé ï äïýëïò ôïõ Èåïý, ãéáôß øùìß äåí Ý÷åé."
"The slave of God is fasting, because he doesn't have any food."
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[edit] Ï
"Ïé áéþíåò áíôéãñÜöïõí áëëÞëïõò." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"The centuries copy each other." (ancient Greek saying)
Equivalent to "History repeats itself."
"Ï áíÞöïñïò öÝñíåé êáôÞöïñï."
"The uphill is followed by a downhill."
The equivalent of "What goes up, must come down."
"Ï Üññùóôïò ðïõ üñéóå ùò êëçñïíüìï ôïõ ôï ãéáôñü, ðïôÝ äå èá ãßíåé êáëÜ."
"The patient who set his doctor as his heir, will never get better."
"Ï Üññùóôïò èÝëåé ãéáôñü êé ï ðåèáìÝíïò êëÜìá."
"The sick needs a doctor and the dead, mourning."
"Ï ãéáôñüò åßíáé ï ÷åéñüôåñïò Üññùóôïò."
"The doctor is the worst patient."
"Ï êáèÝíáò ãéá ëüãïõ ôïõ êé ï èåüò ãéá üëïõò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Each for his own and God for all." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ï êáêüò ôï ðñùß, ôï âñÜäõ ÷åéñüôåñïò."
"The bad of the morning, becomes worse by the night."
"¼ôé èõìÜôáé ÷áßñåôáé."
"He rejoices at whatever he remembers."
When a person remembers something in that moment and want it, even though they wouldn't have if they hadn't thought of it.
"Ï êáíáôÜò üðïõ èÝëåé êïëëÜåé ôá ÷åñïýëéá." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"The potter puts the handles wherever he wishes." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ïôáí ç öôþ÷éá ìðáßíåé ìÝóá áðü ôçí ðüñôá, ç áãÜðç âãáßíåé Ýîù áð' ôï ðáñÜèõñï."
"When poverty comes in through the door, love goes out through the window."
Financial problems in a home affect loving relationships.
"Ïôáí ëåßðåé ï ãÜôïò, ôá ðïíôßêéá ÷ïñåýïõí."
"When the cat is absent, the mice dance."
Akin to "When the cat's away, the mice will play". In the absence of authority, anarchy reigns.
"Ïëá ôïõ ãÜìïõ äýóêïëá êé ç íýöç ãêáóôñùìÝíç."
"Everything about the wedding is difficult (obstacles or objections) and the bride is pregnant."
When people make excuses or place obstacles about a task that has to be done.
"Ï ëýêïò óáí ãåñÜóåé, ìáóêáñÜò ôùí óêõëéþí ãßíåôáé."
When the wolf gets old, he becomes the clown of dogs."
"Ï ëýêïò êé áí åãÝñáóå êé Üóðñéóå ôï ìáëß ôïõ, ïýôå ôçí ãïýíá ôïõ Üëëáîå, ïýôå ôçí êåöáëÞ ôïõ."
"Even though the wolf got old and his fur is white, he neither changed his skin or his head."
When a person is bad to begin with, this doesn't change in old age.
"Ï ëýêïò Ý÷åé ôïí óâÝñêï ÷ïíôñü ãéáôß êÜíåé ôéò äïõëåéÝò ìüíïò ôïõ."
"The wolf has a thick neck because he does his work alone."
One should not rely on others to do his work, because perhaps it won't be done as well.
"Ï îõðüëõôïò åßäå ôïí êïõôóü êáé ðáñçãïñÞèçêå."
"A shoeless man saw a one-legged man and felt better."
Someone will always be in a worst situation than someone in a bad situation.
"Ï ÷åéñüôåñïò êïõöüò åßí' áõôüò ðïõ äå èÝëåé í' áêïýóåé."
"The worst deaf is the one who doesn't want to hear."
Being stubborn.
"Oé ðïëëÝò ãíþìåò âïõëéÜæïõí ôï êáñÜâé."
"Too many opinions sink the boat.
Equivalent to the English "Too many cooks spoil the broth". On the perils of democratic indecisiveness.
"¼ðïéïò ãßíåôáé ðñüâáôï ôïí ôñþåé ï ëýêïò."
"He who becomes a sheep is eaten by the wolf."
"¼ðïéïò äåí åðåñðÜôçóå ôç íý÷ôá ìå öåããÜñé, êáé ôï ðñùß ìå ôç äñïóéÜ, ôïí êüóìï äåí å÷Üñç."
"Whoever did not walk in a moonlit night, and in the morning with the dew, did not enjoy the world."
"¼ðïéïò Ý÷åé ôá ãÝíåéá, Ý÷åé êáé ôá ÷ôÝíéá."
"Whoever has the beard, has the combs."
One must have the appropriate tools in a circumstance or situation.
"¼ðïéïò Ý÷åé ðïëý ðéðÝñé, âÜæåé êáé óôá ëÜ÷áíá."
"Whoever has a lot of pepper even puts it on cabbage."
Those who have plenty of something find ways to waste it.
"Ïðïéïò ãåííçèåß óôç öõëáêÞ, ôçí öõëáêÞ èõìÜôáé."
"Whoever was born in prison, remembers the prison."
One tends to gravitate to the places and conditions that he was raised, regardless of how bad the manners were.
"¼ðïéïò êáåß óôï ãÜëá öõóÜåé êáé ôï ãéáïýñôé."
"Whoever gets burnt by the (hot) milk blows on the (cool) yogurt."
When somenone has had a bad experience they tend to be overcautious. For example, someone who has been betrayed does not trust anyone anymore. Akin to "Once bitten, twice shy."
"Ïðïéïò ìðëÝêåôáé ìå ôá ðßôïõñá ôïí ôñùí ïé êüôåò."
"He who gets in chicken feed is eaten by the chickens."
On the perils of getting involved with the wrong people or with the wrong activities.
"Ïðïéïò äåí Ý÷åé ìõáëü Ý÷åé ðüäéá."
"He who has no brains has legs."
On the extra trouble one incurs when not thinking through his actions beforehand.
"¼ðùò Ýóôñùóåò èá êïéìçèåßò."
"How you make your bed is how you are going to sleep (in it)."
You got yourself into this, now get yourself out of it.
"¼ðïéïò äéÜâïëï áãüñáóå, äéÜâïëï ðïõëÜåé."
"He who bought devil, sells devil."
People peddle material things, not whatever they possess.
"¼ðïéïò óôá åßêïóé äåí Ý÷åé íïõ, óôá ôñéÜíôá áò ìçí ðñïóìÝíåé."
"He who doesn't have a brain by twenty, shouldn't expect one at thirty."
"¼ðïõ ðåèáßíïõíå ðïëëïß, èÜíáôï ìç öïâÜóáé."
"Where many die, there is no fear of death."
"¼ðïõ óðÝñíåé ç ïñãÞ, èåñßæåé ç ìåôÜíïéá."
"Where rage seeds, repentance reaps."
"¼ðïéïò ðßíåé âåñåóÝ, äõï öïñÝò ìåèÜåé."
"He who drinks on credit, gets twice as drunk."
"¼ðïéïò êõâåñíÜåé ôï óðßôé ôïõ, êõâåñíÜåé êáé ôç æùÞ ôïõ."
"He who governs his home, governs his life."
"¼ðïéïò óôçí îÝñá ðåñðáôåß êáé èÜëáóóá ãõñåýåé, ï äéÜâïëïò ïðßóù ôïõ êïõêéÜ ôïõ ìáãåéñåýåé."
"He who walks the earth and seeks the sea, the devil behind him is cooking fava beans for him."
"Ï ðåéíáóìÝíïò êáñâÝëéá ïíåéñåýåôáé."
"He who's hungry dreams of bread-loaves."
"Ïé ðåèáìÝíïé ìå ôïõò ðåèáìÝíïõò, êé ïé æùíôáíïß ìå ôïõò æùíôáíïýò."
"The dead along the dead, and the living along the living."
Used for people who mourn a departed too long. It is like saying "Get on with your life."
"Ï èåüò áãáðÜåé ôïí êëÝöôç, ìá óáí ôïí íïéêïêýñç, ü÷é."
"God loves the thief, but not like the master of the house."
The crook may get away initially, but he will eventually get caught.
"¼íôåò èÝëåé íá ÷áëÜóåé ï èåüò ôï ìÝñìõãêá, ôïõ âÜíåé öôåñÜ êáé ðåôÜåé." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"When God wants to destroy the ant, he puts wings on him and it flies (to its destruction)." (Kefalonian proverb)
"Ï èåüò Ýöêéáóå ôïí êüóìï êé åßðå: 'Ïðü÷åé ìõáëü áò ðïñåýåôáé.'" (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"God made the world and said: "He who has a brain will go on." (Kefalonian proveb)
"Ïõ ãáñ Ýñ÷åôáé ìüíïí ôï ãÞñáò."
"Old age does not come alone."
Old age comes with illnesses, like sickness, loss of memory, etc.
"Ï èåüò äå ãêñåìßæåé ôá óðßôéá ôùí áíèñþðùí, ðáñÜ ÷áëÜåé ôá ìõáëÜ ôïõò êáé ôá ãêñåìßæïõí ìïíÜ÷ïé ôïõò."
"God does not tear down men's homes, he ruins their minds and they tear them down themselves."
"Ï Üíèñùðïò üôé ìðïñåß êé ï Èåüò üôé èÝëåé."
"Man what is able of, God whatever it wants."
"Ï èåüò ïéêïíïìÜåé êé ï äéÜïëïò ôá ÷áëÜåé."
"God saves money and the devil spents them."
"Ï èåüò âëÝðåé âïõíÜ êáé ñß÷íåé ÷éüíé."
"God sees mountains and throws snow on them."
"¼ôáí êÜíåéò üôé ìðïñåßò, êÜíåéò üôé ðñÝðåé."
"When you do what you can, you do what you must."
"¼óï ðßí' ç ðåèåñÜ ìáò ôüóï ìáò êáëï÷áéñåôÜåé."
"As long as our mother in law is drinking, she'll be gentle (to us)."
"¼ôáí ï ìÞíáò äåí Ý÷åé ñþ (ñ) ôï êñáóß èÝëåé íåñü." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"When the month has no "R" put water in your wine."
In Greece, during the hot months of the summer, one must be careful with his alcohol consumption.
"Ïóåò öïñÝò êÜíåé ç ðñïâáôßíá 'Mðåå', ôüóåò ìðïõêéÝò ÷Üíåé."
"Every time the ewe goes 'Baa', she loses the same number of mouthfuls."
Do not speak while you eat.
"¼ôé ìéêñïìÜèåéò, äåí ãåñïíôáöÞíåéò."
"What you learn as a child, you cannot forget as an old person."
Refers to knowlegde/skills one acquires as a youngster, and continues to remember for ever.
Also with the meaning of "Old habits die hard."
"¼øéìïò ãéïò äå èá ãíùñßóåé ðáôÝñá." (ÂõæáíôéíÞ ðáñïéìßá)
"Son of old age, won't know his father." (Byzantine proverb)
"Ï øåýôçò ãåííÜåé Ýíá øåýôç, þóðïõ íá ãßíïõí ìéá ãåíéÜ."
"A liar gives birth to another liar, until they become a generation (of liars)."
"Ï øåýôçò êé ï êëÝöôçò ôïí ðñþôï ÷ñüíï ÷áßñïíôáé."
"Liars and thieves are happy only the first year (after the deed)."
The implication here is that they eventually get caught.
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"Ðáëéü ãéáôñü êáé ãÝñï êáðåôÜíéï íá ãõñåýåéò."
"Seek an old doctor and an old captain."
Experience.
"ÐÜìå ãéá ìáëëß êáé èá âãïýìå êïõñåìÝíïé."
"We're going to get wool, but we'll come out shorn."
Akin to "Buyer beware."
"ÐáðÜò, ãéáôñüò êáé ÷ùñïöýëáêáò êáëýôåñá 'íáé íá ìçí ìðáßíïõíå óôï óðßôé."
"A priest, a doctor and a policeman is better not to enter one's house."
Authority.
"Ðáðïýôóé áðü ôïí ôüðï óïõ êé áò åßíáé ìðáëùìÝíï."
"Shoe from your place, even if it is patched."
Take a spouse from the place you come from, even if she is not so great.
"Ðåñß ïñÝîåùò êïëïêõèïêïñöÜäåò."
"When it comes to taste anything goes, even eating the Zucchini Plant flower/tops."
"ÐÞñåò ðïëý øçëÜ ôïí áìáíÝ."
"You are singing the song too high.
Arrogance or over-reaching. Akin to: "Bit off more than he can chew."
"Ðïëëïß óõããåíåßò, ëßãïé ëßãïé."
"Many relatives, little by little (on each visit)."
Family.
"Ðïýëáãå áêñéâÜ êáé æýãéáæå óùóôá."
"Sell your goods expensive and weigh correctly."
Commerce.
"Ðïõ ðáò îõðüëçôïò óô' áãêÜèéá;"
"How come you are going barefoot on the thorns?"
Why are you getting into this difficulty unprepared?
"Ðñþôá âãáßíåé ç øõ÷Þ ôïõ áíèñþðïõ êáé ìåôÜ ôï ÷ïýé ôïõ."
"First leaves the soul of a person and then his quirks."
Refers to the fact that some habits are ingrained in a person's personality.
"Ðñþôç âïÞèåéá ôïõ èåïý, äåýôåñç ôïõ ãåéôüíïõ."
"First aid by God, second by neighbor."
¼ðïõ áêïýò ðïëëÜ êåñÜóéá, âÜóôá ìéêñü êáëÜèé.
"When you hear of many cherries, hold a small basket."
Don't get overwhelmed, and be cautious.
"Ï ðíéãìÝíïò, áðü ôá ìáëëéÜ ôïõ ðéÜíåôáé."
"The drowning man grips to his own hair."
"Ðåò ôï, ðåò ôï, ôï êïðÝëé, êÜíåé ôçí êõñÜ êáé èÝëåé."
"By saying and saying it, the lad makes the lady want it."
Persistence.
"Ðáëéüò ï÷ôñüò ößëïò äå ãßíåôáé." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"An old enemy can't become a friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"Ðïõ äåí áêïýåé ôóïõ ößëïõò ôïõ, åõêáñéóôÜåé ôó' ï÷ôñïýò ôïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"He who doesn't listen to his friends, makes his enemies happy." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"ÊÜëëéï 'íáò öñüíéìïò ï÷ôñüò ðáñÜ Ýíáò ößëïò ðáëáâüò." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"Better a wise enemy than an insane friend." (proverb from Cephalonia)
Enemies/Friends.
"ÐáðÜò, ðáðÜ êáëü äå èÝëåé."
"A priest can't stand another good priest."
Envy.
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ÑÜâäïò åí ôç ãùíßá, Üñá âñÝ÷åé.
"A walking stick in a corner, therefore it's raining."
It is said of an argument that is totally absurd; a non sequitur. This idiom is in "high" Greek language.
"Ñüäá åßíáé êáé ãõñßæåé."
"A wheel it is and it turns around."
The obvious.
"Ôï ñáãéóìÝíï ãéáëß äåí óéÜ÷ôåôáé."
"The cracked glass cannot be fixed."
Has to do with broken relationships, when one did or said someting that cannot be rectified.
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"Óðßôé ðïõ äåí ôï âëÝðåé ï Þëéïò, ôï âëåðåé ï ãéáôñüò."
"A house not seen by the sun is seen by the doctor."
"Óðßôé ìïõ óðéôÜêé ìïõ êáé óðéôïêáëõâÜêé ìïõ."
"My home, my little home, a little house of my own."
Greek equivalent of "Home, sweet home".
"Óôïõ êïõöïý ôçí ðüñôá, üóï èÝëåéò âñüíôá."
"At the deaf man's door, knock as much as you like."
Some people ignore any advice or guidance that may be provided to them. In more modern Greek, there is a funny spoof of this proverb : "Óôïõ êïõöïý ôçí ðüñôá, ìðåò áð'ôï ðáñÜèõñï" ("When at a deaf man's door, get in through the window").
"Óôïí Üññùóôï ôï ãéáôñéêü, óôïí ðïíåìÝíï ï ëüãïò."
"To the patient you give medicine, to a suffering person a good word."
"Óôïõò óôñáâïýò êõâåñíÜåé ï ìïíüöèáëìïò."
"In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king."
"Ó' ôóïõ åßêïóé ìõáëü, ó'ôóïõ ôñéÜíôá âéï êáé ó' ôóïõ óáñÜíôá ãõíáßêá, åéä' áëëéþò åßôå ìõáëü åßôå âéïò åßôå ãõíáßêá." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"(?) (Kefalonian proverb)
Better translation needed.
"Óôá åßêïóé èá äïõëÝøåéò, óôá ôñéÜíôá èá êÜìåéò, óôá óáñÜíôá èá '÷åéò. Äå äïýëåøåò, äåí Ýêáìåò, äåí Ý÷åéò."
At (age) twenty you'll work, at thirty you'll make, and at forty you'll have. If you don't work, you will not make, and you won't have."
"ÓöÜëìá ãéáôñïý, ðåííéÜ èåïý." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"A doctor's mistake is God's writing." (Kefalonian proverb)
God's Decision.
[edit] Ô
"Ôá íéÜôá (Þ ï Ýñùôáò) êé ï âÞ÷áò äåí êñýâïíôáé."
"Youth (or love) and a cough can't be hidden."
"Ôá öüñôùóå óôïí êüêïñá."
"He loaded them (dumped them) on the rooster."
To abdicate one's responsibilities, especially in studying. Other version: "Äåí ìåëåôÜåé êáèüëïõ óôï ó÷ïëåßï. Ôá Ý÷åé öïñôþóåé óôïí êüêïñá" ("He doesn't study at all in school. He dumps it on the rooster.")
"Ôá ðïëëÜ ëüãéá åßíáé öôþ÷éá."
"Many words is poverty."
Advises against talking too much; avoiding circumlocution.
"Ô' áñãáóôÞñé èÝëåé êïõôóü íïéêïêýñç."
"A workshop should have a lame master."
"Ôá ðáèÞìáôá ôùí ðñþôùí, ãåöýñé ôùí äåýôåñùí."
"The misfortunes of the first ones, a bridge for the second ones."
Learning from one's mistakes.
"Ôá ñÜóá äåí êÜíïõí ôïí ðáðÜ."
"A cassock doesn't make someone a priest."
Roughly equivalent to the Ånglish: "Clothes don't make the man."
Ôçò íý÷ôáò ôá êáìþìáôá ôá âëÝðåé ç ìÝñá êáé ãåëÜ.
"The day sees the deeds of the night and laughs."
That which occurs at nighttime is the folly of the daytime.
"Ôï ìåãÜëï øÜñé ôñþåé ôï ìéêñü."
"The big fish eats the little one."
People of wealth or high position always take advantage of the less fortunate or weak.
"Ôçí ðñïäïóßá ðïëëïß áãÜðçóáí, ôï ðñïäüôç êáíåßò."
"Many have loved treason, none the traitor."
"Ôï áãêÜèé áðü ìéêñü áãêõëþíåé."
"A thorn stings even if it's small."
"Ôïí áñÜðç êé áí ôïí ðëÝíåéò, ôï óáðïýíé óïõ ÷áëÜò."
"No matter how much you wash a black person, you are wasting your soap."
This proverb is mainly used to express the futility of trying to change the mentality of a headstrong person (the color of a black person cannot be washed off) and it does have racist connotations. In modern Greek, the word "áñÜðçò" (arapis -- black man) is a lay (and at times borderline pejorative) term -- originally probably derived from the word "¢ñáâáò" (Aravas -- Arab).
"Ôïí êáâáëëÜñç ìçí ôïí ëõðÜóáé ðïõ êñÝìïíôáé ôá ðïäÜñéá ôïõ."
"Don't feel pity for the rider's hanging legs."
The implication being that at least he has a horse, while you don't.
"Ôï áßìá íåñü äå ãßíåôáé."
"Blood doesn't turn to water."
Family will always be family. (i.e. "Blood is thicker than water")
"Ôé äå óå íïéÜæåé ìç ñùôÜò, ðïôÝ êáêü äåí Ý÷åéò."
"What doesn't concern you, don't ask about, and you'll never have bad (things in your life)."
About curiosity.
"Ôï êáëü ôï ðáëéêÜñé îÝñåé êé'Üëëï ìïíïðÜôé."
"The good (wise) lad always knows of an alternate path."
Used when an effort goes wrong or not as expected, but still you manage to find another solution.
"Ôï ìÞëï êÜôù áð` ôç ìçëéÜ èá ðÝóåé."
"The apple will fall under the apple-tree."
The offspring will be like his parents, usually derogatory. Akin to, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree".
"Ôï 'íá ÷Ýñé íÞâåé ô' Üëëï, êáé ôá äõï ôï ðñüóùðï."
"The one hand washes the other, and both wash the face."
Used when referring to cooperation and mutual dependency. Also possibly exchanging illicit favours.
"Ôï ðáéäß óïõ êáé ôï óêõëß óïõ üðùò ôá ìÜèåéò."
"Your child and your dog (behave) the way you teach them."
When you set up rules early, the behaviour that follows adheres to these rules.
"Ôï ÷ùñéü êáßãåôáé êáé ç ðïõôÜíá ëïýæåôáé."
"The village is burning and the village prostitute is washing her hair."
English equivalent to "Rome burned and Nero fiddled."
"Ôï öèçíü ôï êñÝáò ôá óêõëéÜ ôï ôñþíå."
"Cheap meat is eaten by dogs."
Cheap items are thrown away.
"Ôï óêïéíß ôï ìáëáêü, ôñþåé ôçí ðÝôñá ôçí îåñÞ."
"The soft rope corrodes the dry stone."
Using persuasion, one can change strong opinions.
"Ôï óôáíéü êáé ôç âßá ï èåüò ôá 'äùóå."
"Force and violence were give by God."
"Ôþñá Ýöáãåò ôï âüäé, è'áöÞóåéò ôçí ïõñÜ;"
"Now you've eaten the bull, will you leave the tail?"
On seeing a task through to completion.
"Ôþñá ðïõ æù, èÝëù íá ãäù ôá ðéèõìÜù êé ïñßæù, êé Üìá, óá öýãù íá ìå êëáßò, ÷Üñç äå óôï ãíùñßæù."
"This one is in "peasant" Greek and it says: "Now that I live (am alive), I want to see, to wish and own, when I'm gone and you cry for me I won't know it."
"Ôï êáëü áñíß äõï ìÜíåò âõæáßíåé." (ÂõæáíôéíÞ ðáñïéìßá)
"A gentle sheep is being breastfed by two mothers." (Byzantine proverb)
"Ôñï÷üò ô' áíèñþðéíá." (áñ÷áéïåëëçíéêü ñçôü)
"Human things are a wheel." (ancient Greek saying)
"Ôï êáéíïýñãéï óðßôé, ôïí ðñþôï ÷ñüíï ô' ï÷ôñïý óïõ, ôïí äåýôåñï ôïõ äéêïý óïõ êáé ôïí ôñßôï ôïõ ëüãïõ óïõ." (Êåöáëïíßôéêç ðáñïéìßá)
"For the new house, the first year is your enemy's, the second is your own, and the third your reason/logic's."
"Ôï ãéíÜôé âãÜæåé ìÜôé."
"Anger takes out your eyes."
About the blindness of anger; being unreasonable.
"Ôùí öñïíßìùí ôá ðáéäéÜ, ðñßí ðåéíÜóïõí ìáãåéñåýïõí."
"The wise children are cooking before they get hungry."
[edit] Õ
[edit] Ö
"Öáóïýëé ôï öáóïýëé ãåìßæåé ôï óáêïýëé."
"Bean by bean, the sack gets full."
On the merits of saving.
"Ößëïé ìïõ óôçí áíÜãêç ìïõ, êé å÷èñïß ìïõ óôç ÷áñÜ ìïõ."
"They are my friends when I am in need, and my enemies when I am happy."
"Öýëáãå ôá ñïý÷á óïõ íá Ý÷åéò ôá ìéóÜ."
"Mind your clothes so that you can keep half of them."
Refers to the fact that you can never be too careful, and even if you are very careful, there is still going to be some losses.
[edit] ×
"×åóôÞêáìå êáé ç âÜñêá ãÝñíåé."
"We shit ourselves and the boat is leaning."
There is no significant difference in a situation after the occurance of a minor incident.
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"ØÜ÷íåéò øýëëïõò óô' Ü÷õñá."
"You are looking for fleas in the straw."
You are looking for something impossible to find. Akin to "A needle in a haystack."
[edit] Ù