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Thanks, SBE! Nobody knows where the English phrase comes from. Eric Partridge's Dictionary of Catchphrases suggests it may be a translation of the German phrase Hals- und Beinbruch (neck and leg break), a term of encouragement for aviators in WWI, which later spread to the stage. Partridge also...

Thanks, anepipsogos! For anepipsogos, His rebetiko:- The Impeccable on the Immoral THE FLOWER OF IRREVERENCE I fathomed out the hubble-bubble which produces quickly straightaway swiftly, specifically [rimitative of bubbles!] a cloud of rebetik smoke. I didn’t mean to be embarrassed and ran...

For ‘break a leg/ good luck’ I have several equivalents like: καλή τύχη, καλή επιτυχία, καλή επιτυχία σου εύχομαι, σου εύχομαι καλή επιτυχία, φτου μη σε ματιάσω, με το καλό, με τη νίκη, κάνω επιτυχία σε παράσταση, όλα να πάνε καλά, να σπάσει ο διάολος το ποδάρι του, φτου μ´. I think you can...

As a tribute to you, anepipsogos, I am attempting to translate this into tolerable English. Can you tell me what the following means:- λίγο ρεμπέτικο ψαχνό (to snort) a little rebetik dust τη φόδρα να γυρίσω to attract a humble woman/ to turn the lining ?? The rest of your poem I think I can...

Looks better than the original, anepipsogos! I found and read the original ρεμπέτικο: from your ‘rough verse’ you have the potential to forge a new career in rebetika! Thanks for that anyway! And thanks to you, cougr, που συνεχίζεις το νερό να τρέχει στ’ αυλάκι. In Greek so that some kind soul...

Was the quirky ditty yours, anepipsogos, bearing in mind that there is another verse beneath as it were your ‘signature marker!? Thanks for the several suggestions, m_a_a, and, of course to you, cougr!

The above is an expression of irritation, exasperation, or discontent to someone who is being imperious or makes excessive or unreasonable demands on one.Examples:- Bill: "Darren, I need you to pick up my dry cleaning before lunch, then arrange for a taxi to pick me up at five o'clock." Darren...

Thanks for all this extra material, m_a_a. It’s really appreciated and helpful.

Thanks, cougr. Might you say "Γιατί να δουλεύεις, όταν έχεις δούλους;" A bit lame but it conveys the idea behind the English proverbial expression.

This English proverbial saying means, as defined by the Cambridge English Dictionary, is said when you wish to know why someone would do something himself or herself when that person already pays someone else to do it. An example is, for instance, is when a wife asks her husband to do the...

Thanks all! BTW:- Why is πεισμένος in capital letters? Any ideas? Is it because ‘hungry’ for a man with a Porsche is satirical. Έτσι νομίζω…😹

I was looking up a phrase which I had come across in my reading, δηλ. στο φτερό to see if it could be used in the sense of ‘at the double’ like μάνι μάνι or τσάκα τσάκα. The phrase seems generally to mean ‘on the fly’ i.e. in a hurry and often without preparation. I looked it up also in...

Thanks, m_a_a! When I’m stuck again on a short phrase I will take your tip!😊

Thanks, m_a_a. You got to my question in double quick time! I don’t know how to access these questions of long ago. Quite how do you do it?

(I have already submitted this UK phrase to Lexilogia but can’t find the answers because the words are too short to locate.) It’s an interjection and can be a sarcastic and derisive phrase meant to mock something which is perceived as pretentious or overly refined. Far more often it is used...

I never take your criticisms in the wrong spirit, cougr! I learn from you, m_a_a, and any other colleagues who correct my attempts at Greek! That is the way I learn. Lexilogia is a hugely important website for me and many others who are trying to learn Greek and I value the graciousness and...

Thanks, Δούκα. It’s a good story. My friend then stood up and marched off down the hill, at the top of which the circular tree bench was, and strode off in a mock high dudgeon! The friend is long dead now but was a career cinema organist: you don’t hear of these any more!

My question is the thread title suggests is twofold but one in essence. Here is the context: a friend of mine was sitting on one side of a circular tree bench and didn't realise that someone else was sitting on the other side. This person, as it happens, was a woman. Thinking that no-one else...

The only Greek subtitles on my youtube version (above) are autogenerated and often unreadable.

Thanks, nickel! At least, I tried…But is it available with Greek subtitles because I can easily follow them?