What did your last slave die of?

[Theseus]

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: "Sheesh, what did your last slave die of?" Bill:"Excuse me? One more outburst like that and you're fired!"
Dad: "Sally, take out the garbage like your mother asks." Sally: "That’s enough, dad. Third job in as many minutes! Gosh,what did your last slave die of?"
This is similar to my last English into Greek query but it expresses more annoyance.
Could the Greek for this be something like:- “Από τι πέθανε ο τελευταίος σου σκλάβος/σκλάβα;l

 

[m_a_a_]

A few random suggestions that come to mind (albeit far from literal equivalents):

Σαν πολλά δεν ζητάς ρε μάστορα / ρε μεγάλε;

Θα μας βγάλεις το λάδι εσύ (μου φαίνεται)…

Vulgar alternative (open to variations): Μήπως θες να στήσουμε και κώλο;

And a quirkier one: Τι άλλο θα μου ζητήσεις (ρε συ); Σπαθιά να καταπιώ;

Just to get the ball rolling…

 

[anepipsogos]

Οι σκλάβοι μάς τελειώσανε
στο λέει ο Βαγγέλης
και μαζεμένες τις δουλειές
να μην τις παραγγέλλεις

 

[cougr]

To keep the ball rolling...Καλά, για τι με πέρασες; (Για) δούλο;

Could the Greek for this be something like:- “Από τι πέθανε ο τελευταίος σου σκλάβος/σκλάβα;l

That's the literal translation but it isn't functionally equivalent to the English expression, hence doesn't convey the idiomatic meaning.

 

[Theseus]

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!

 

[anepipsogos]

Was the quirky ditty yours, anepipsogos,

Yes, it's mine. it's just a rough verse

Signature marker is my own version of the song «Θα κάνω ντου βρε πονηρή» (I'm going to raid, you sly one)

 

[Theseus]

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 may correct my halting efforts.

 

[anepipsogos]

you have the potential to forge a new career in rebetika!

Yes, I have tried writing «rebetika» verses

ΑΝΘΟΣ ΑΝΕΥΛΑΒΕΙΑΣ

Ανθίστηκα τη μηχανή

που βγάζει μάνι μάνι

ατάκα σβέλτα δηλαδή

ρεμπέτικο ντουμάνι
**

Δεν εννοούσα να ντραπώ

κι έτρεξα να τσιμπήσω

λίγο ρεμπέτικο ψαχνό

τη φόδρα να γυρίσω
**

Και ζώνομαι τον μπαγλαμά

μπουζούκι και μπεγλέρι

το καπελάκι μου στραβά

και το λουλά στο χέρι
**

Μάγκας κατά συμβεβηκός

μόρτης πολυτελείας

ατάσθαλος κι απολωλός

άνθος ανευλαβείας

 

[Theseus]

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 ‘translate’….

 

[anepipsogos]

ρεμπέτικο ψαχνό: rebetic “meat” (profit/benefit)

τη φόδρα να γυρίσω: turn things upside down