A2 Idiom غیر رسمی

είμαι στα μαχαίρια

to be at daggers drawn

معنی

To be in a hostile conflict with someone.

🌍

زمینه فرهنگی

In Greece, family conflicts can be very intense and long-lasting. Being 'στα μαχαίρια' with a relative is a serious social situation that often involves the whole extended family taking sides. In Crete, the knife (μαχαίρι) is a symbol of manhood and honor. While the idiom is used all over Greece, it has a stronger historical resonance in Crete where literal knife-fighting was once a way to settle 'vendettas'. Greek political culture is highly adversarial. It is very common to see 'Στα μαχαίρια' as a headline in newspapers like 'Kathimerini' or 'Proto Thema' to describe disagreements between ministers. If you know two people are 'στα μαχαίρια', it is considered a major social 'faux pas' to invite them to the same small dinner party or sit them at the same table at a wedding.

🎯

Use with 'βρίσκομαι'

If you want to sound more like a native speaker in a serious discussion, use 'βρίσκομαι στα μαχαίρια' instead of 'είμαι'.

⚠️

Don't use for small tiffs

If you just had a small disagreement, don't use this phrase. It implies a deep, serious break in the relationship.

معنی

To be in a hostile conflict with someone.

🎯

Use with 'βρίσκομαι'

If you want to sound more like a native speaker in a serious discussion, use 'βρίσκομαι στα μαχαίρια' instead of 'είμαι'.

⚠️

Don't use for small tiffs

If you just had a small disagreement, don't use this phrase. It implies a deep, serious break in the relationship.

💬

Gossip context

This is the perfect phrase for 'koutsompolio' (gossip). Greeks love using it to describe the drama in other people's lives.

خودت رو بسنج

Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.

Ο Νίκος και ο Γιώργος δεν μιλάνε πια. Είναι ______ ______.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: στα μαχαίρια

The correct form is 'στα' (preposition + article) and 'μαχαίρια' (plural).

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Η Μαρία είναι στα μαχαίρια με την ξαδέρφη της.

The idiom is used to describe a conflict between people, not for eating or as a physical object.

Match the situation to the phrase.

Two political parties refuse to vote for the same law and insult each other in public.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Είναι στα μαχαίρια.

'Στα μαχαίρια' is the only phrase that describes conflict.

Complete the dialogue.

Α: Θα έρθει ο Γιάννης στο τραπέζι; Β: Όχι, ο πατέρας μου και ο Γιάννης ________________.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: είναι στα μαχαίρια

This explains why someone wouldn't attend a family gathering.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

بانک تمرین

4 تمرین‌ها
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom. جای خالی A2

Ο Νίκος και ο Γιώργος δεν μιλάνε πια. Είναι ______ ______.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: στα μαχαίρια

The correct form is 'στα' (preposition + article) and 'μαχαίρια' (plural).

Which sentence correctly uses the idiom? Choose A2

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Η Μαρία είναι στα μαχαίρια με την ξαδέρφη της.

The idiom is used to describe a conflict between people, not for eating or as a physical object.

Match the situation to the phrase. situation_matching B1

Two political parties refuse to vote for the same law and insult each other in public.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Είναι στα μαχαίρια.

'Στα μαχαίρια' is the only phrase that describes conflict.

Complete the dialogue. dialogue_completion A2

Α: Θα έρθει ο Γιάννης στο τραπέζι; Β: Όχι, ο πατέρας μου και ο Γιάννης ________________.

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: είναι στα μαχαίρια

This explains why someone wouldn't attend a family gathering.

🎉 امتیاز: /4

سوالات متداول

4 سوال

It describes an aggressive situation, but the phrase itself is a standard idiom and not considered rude to say.

Yes, if the breakup was very messy and the two people now hate each other, 'είναι στα μαχαίρια' is perfect.

The opposite is 'είμαστε μες στα μέλια' (we are in honey), meaning we are very affectionate and getting along perfectly.

Yes, the definite article 'τα' is mandatory. You cannot say 'είμαι σε μαχαίρια'.

عبارات مرتبط

🔗

τα σπάσαμε

similar

We broke it/them (we broke up).

🔗

δεν μιλιόμαστε

builds on

We are not speaking to each other.

🔗

σκοτωθήκαμε

similar

We killed each other (we had a huge fight).

🔗

τα βρήκαμε

contrast

We found them (we made up).

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