Significado
Agreeing with someone to avoid conflict.
Contexto cultural
In traditional Greek families, the 'pater familias' or the grandmother often holds significant emotional power. Younger members use this idiom to describe how they navigate these strong personalities without causing 'fasaria' (trouble). Greek business culture is highly relational. Building rapport often involves a period of 'going with the waters' of a potential partner to establish trust before getting down to hard negotiations. The idiom reflects Greece's deep connection to the sea. Understanding currents was a matter of life and death, and this physical reality translated into a social philosophy of flexibility. A host is expected to make a guest feel comfortable at all costs. If a guest is being difficult, the host will 'go with their waters' as a point of honor.
Use with Pronouns
Remember to change the pronoun! του (him), της (her), τους (them), μου (me), σου (you).
Don't overdo it
If you always 'πάς με τα νερά' of everyone, Greeks might call you 'άβουλο' (lacking will) or a 'yes-man'.
Significado
Agreeing with someone to avoid conflict.
Use with Pronouns
Remember to change the pronoun! του (him), της (her), τους (them), μου (me), σου (you).
Don't overdo it
If you always 'πάς με τα νερά' of everyone, Greeks might call you 'άβουλο' (lacking will) or a 'yes-man'.
The 'Imperative' trick
When giving advice, use 'Πήγαινέ του με τα νερά'. The extra 'ε' at the end of 'Πήγαινε' makes it sound more natural when followed by 'του'.
Ponte a prueba
Συμπληρώστε το κενό με τη σωστή μορφή του ιδιώματος.
Ο πατέρας μου είναι πολύ νευρικός σήμερα, γι' αυτό ________ με τα νερά του.
We use 'του' (genitive) and the present tense 'πάω' to match the context of 'σήμερα'.
Ποια είναι η σημασία της φράσης 'του πάω με τα νερά';
Όταν λέμε ότι πάμε με τα νερά κάποιου, εννοούμε ότι:
The idiom is figurative and refers to conflict avoidance.
Ολοκληρώστε το διάλογο.
Α: Ο προϊστάμενος θέλει να αλλάξουμε όλο το σχέδιο πάλι! Β: Ξέρω ότι είναι άδικο, αλλά ________.
The imperative 'πήγαινέ του' is the correct way to give advice in this context.
Ταιριάξτε την κατάσταση με την κατάλληλη φράση.
Ένας πελάτης φωνάζει χωρίς λόγο στο κατάστημα.
Going with the customer's waters is a strategy for de-escalation.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosΟ πατέρας μου είναι πολύ νευρικός σήμερα, γι' αυτό ________ με τα νερά του.
We use 'του' (genitive) and the present tense 'πάω' to match the context of 'σήμερα'.
Όταν λέμε ότι πάμε με τα νερά κάποιου, εννοούμε ότι:
The idiom is figurative and refers to conflict avoidance.
Α: Ο προϊστάμενος θέλει να αλλάξουμε όλο το σχέδιο πάλι! Β: Ξέρω ότι είναι άδικο, αλλά ________.
The imperative 'πήγαινέ του' is the correct way to give advice in this context.
Ένας πελάτης φωνάζει χωρίς λόγο στο κατάστημα.
Going with the customer's waters is a strategy for de-escalation.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasNo, it's not rude, but it implies that the person you are humoring is being difficult or irrational.
Yes! You can say 'Μου πάει με τα νερά' if someone is being very agreeable with you.
'Go with the flow' is usually about accepting a situation. 'Πάω με τα νερά κάποιου' is specifically about managing a person's mood.
Only if you are describing how you handle difficult customers or conflict. Otherwise, it might sound too informal.
It is used equally by all genders in Greece.
Slightly, as it suggests the other person is being stubborn, but the act of 'going with the waters' is seen as a positive, patient trait.
Yes, just use 'τους': Τους πάω με τα νερά.
Yes, you could say 'συγκαταβαίνω' or 'συμμορφώνομαι με τις επιθυμίες τους'.
Absolutely. Parents often 'πάνε με τα νερά' of a toddler having a tantrum.
Not at all. It is used daily by young and old alike.
Frases relacionadas
του κάνω τα χατίρια
synonymto do someone's favors/whims
τον παίρνω με το μαλακό
similarto handle someone gently
του φέρνω αντίρρηση
contrastto raise an objection to someone
του παίρνω τον αέρα
contrastto put someone in their place / to take the wind out of their sails
