Signification
Doing a difficult task for others.
Contexte culturel
In Greek villages, snakes are common and often hide in stone walls or holes. Dealing with them was a real, dangerous necessity, which is why the idiom feels so grounded in reality. The idiom is equally common in Cyprus, often used in political contexts regarding the 'Cyprus Problem' and who will take the risk to solve it. Similar versions of this idiom exist across the Balkans (Bulgaria, Serbia), showing a shared agricultural and folkloric history regarding snakes. In modern Greek office culture, this idiom is a way to acknowledge someone's leadership or to complain about a lack of teamwork.
Use the Past Tense
You will most often use this in the past tense (έβγαλα) to describe a situation you already handled.
Don't be too literal
If you actually see a snake, just call animal control! Using this idiom in a literal snake situation might confuse people.
Signification
Doing a difficult task for others.
Use the Past Tense
You will most often use this in the past tense (έβγαλα) to describe a situation you already handled.
Don't be too literal
If you actually see a snake, just call animal control! Using this idiom in a literal snake situation might confuse people.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing word to complete the idiom.
Κανείς δεν ήθελε να μιλήσει, οπότε ο Κώστας έβγαλε το ______ από την τρύπα.
The idiom always uses 'φίδι' (snake).
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly?
Choose the correct usage:
Option B correctly uses the idiom to mean solving a major problem for a group.
Complete the dialogue with the correct form of the verb 'βγάζω'.
Α: Ποιος θα μιλήσει στον θυμωμένο γείτονα; Β: Μην κοιτάτε εμένα! Δεν θα ______ εγώ το φίδι από την τρύπα αυτή τη φορά.
The future tense 'θα βγάλω' is needed here.
🎉 Score : /3
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
3 exercicesΚανείς δεν ήθελε να μιλήσει, οπότε ο Κώστας έβγαλε το ______ από την τρύπα.
The idiom always uses 'φίδι' (snake).
Choose the correct usage:
Option B correctly uses the idiom to mean solving a major problem for a group.
Α: Ποιος θα μιλήσει στον θυμωμένο γείτονα; Β: Μην κοιτάτε εμένα! Δεν θα ______ εγώ το φίδι από την τρύπα αυτή τη φορά.
The future tense 'θα βγάλω' is needed here.
🎉 Score : /3
Questions fréquentes
3 questionsNo, it's not rude, but it can sound like you are complaining if you say you are the one doing it.
It's better for significant problems. Using it for small things sounds sarcastic.
The most common form is 'Πάλι εγώ έβγαλα το φίδι από την τρύπα' (Again, I pulled the snake out of the hole).
Expressions liées
βγάζω τα κάστανα από τη φωτιά
synonymTo pull the chestnuts out of the fire.
ρίχνω το φίδι σε άλλον
contrastTo throw the snake onto someone else.
βγάζω το άχτι μου
similarTo get my revenge or vent my frustration.
