Signification
To leave a situation quickly or secretly to avoid responsibility.
Contexte culturel
In modern Greek culture, sharing a bill (ρεφενέ) is very common. Someone who consistently 'slips away' is viewed very negatively. Engagements were formal contracts. If a man 'turned' away, he often had to pay a fine or face a duel. The 1960s 'Golden Age' of Greek film used this phrase constantly to create humor around marriage and money. Greeks value 'filotimo' at work. Disappearing during a crisis is the opposite of filotimo.
Use the Past Tense
You'll sound most natural using the past tense 'έστριψε' to comment on someone who just left.
Don't Modernize
Never say 'από τον αρραβώνα'. It ruins the idiom's historical flavor.
Signification
To leave a situation quickly or secretly to avoid responsibility.
Use the Past Tense
You'll sound most natural using the past tense 'έστριψε' to comment on someone who just left.
Don't Modernize
Never say 'από τον αρραβώνα'. It ruins the idiom's historical flavor.
Sarcasm is Key
This phrase is almost always used with a bit of a 'wink' or a sarcastic tone.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'στρίβω'.
Χθες, ο Γιώργος _______ δια του αρραβώνος και δεν πλήρωσε.
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (χθες), so we need the Aorist (Past Simple) form.
Which situation best fits the idiom?
Πότε λέμε 'έστριψε δια του αρραβώνος';
The idiom describes avoiding responsibility by leaving.
Match the phrase with its meaning.
Match the following:
These are all related to leaving, but with different nuances.
Complete the dialogue.
Α: Πού είναι η Μαρία; Πρέπει να πλύνει τα πιάτα. Β: ___________.
Maria left to avoid the chore of washing dishes.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesΧθες, ο Γιώργος _______ δια του αρραβώνος και δεν πλήρωσε.
The sentence refers to 'yesterday' (χθες), so we need the Aorist (Past Simple) form.
Πότε λέμε 'έστριψε δια του αρραβώνος';
The idiom describes avoiding responsibility by leaving.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are all related to leaving, but with different nuances.
Α: Πού είναι η Μαρία; Πρέπει να πλύνει τα πιάτα. Β: ___________.
Maria left to avoid the chore of washing dishes.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
5 questionsYes, although it's a bit 'classic,' young people use it ironically or when talking to older family members.
Technically yes, but it would be very self-deprecating and harsh. It's mostly metaphorical now.
Ghosting is specifically for dating. 'Στρίβω δια του αρραβώνος' is broader and covers bills, work, and social duties.
Not in daily speech, except in fixed phrases like this one. Usually, we use 'από' or 'μέσω'.
It's a criticism of someone's behavior. It's not a 'bad word,' but it's not a compliment either!
Expressions liées
φεύγω αγγλιστί
similarTo leave without saying goodbye.
γίνομαι καπνός
similarTo vanish like smoke.
την κάνω με ελαφρά πηδηματάκια
similarTo leave quietly and quickly.
κάνω τον Κινέζο
relatedTo pretend you don't understand to avoid trouble.
λούφα
relatedAvoiding work/duty (slang).
