मतलब
Dodging a direct answer or responsibility.
सांस्कृतिक पृष्ठभूमि
Football is the most popular sport in Greece, and its terminology permeates daily life. The 'exedra' is not just a place to sit; it's a source of pressure, noise, and sometimes chaos. Political talk shows (parathyra) are famous for heated arguments where participants rarely answer questions directly. This idiom is the most common way for moderators to call out guests. In Greece, being 'straightforward' (ntobros) is a virtue, but being 'clever' (poniros) is also admired. This idiom sits at the intersection of these two values. The concept of 'sophistry' (using clever but false arguments) has roots in Ancient Greece. This modern idiom is a contemporary descendant of that rhetorical tradition.
Use it to win arguments
Calling out someone for 'throwing the ball to the stands' is a great way to force them back to the main topic without being overly aggressive.
Don't use with superiors
Unless you have a very casual relationship with your boss, this phrase can sound a bit accusatory or disrespectful.
मतलब
Dodging a direct answer or responsibility.
Use it to win arguments
Calling out someone for 'throwing the ball to the stands' is a great way to force them back to the main topic without being overly aggressive.
Don't use with superiors
Unless you have a very casual relationship with your boss, this phrase can sound a bit accusatory or disrespectful.
Watch the news
Greek news anchors use this phrase constantly. It's the best way to hear it used in its natural 'political' habitat.
खुद को परखो
Choose the correct meaning of the phrase in the following sentence: 'Ο υπουργός πέταξε τη μπάλα στην εξέδρα όταν ρωτήθηκε για το σκάνδαλο.'
What did the minister do?
The idiom means to dodge a question, which is exactly what the minister did regarding the scandal.
Fill in the missing words to complete the idiom.
Μην προσπαθείς να πετάξεις τη ______ στην ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'μπάλα' (ball) and 'εξέδρα' (stands).
Match the response to the situation where someone is 'throwing the ball to the stands'.
Situation: A boss asks an employee why the report is late.
Talking about the coffee machine is a classic distraction to avoid explaining why the report is late.
Complete the dialogue using the idiom in the correct form.
- Γιατί δεν ήρθες στο ραντεβού μας; - Είχε πολλή κίνηση και μετά έπρεπε να πάω τη γάτα μου στον κτηνίατρο... - Πάλι ______ τη ______ στην ______!
The present tense 'πετάς' is used here to describe a habitual or current behavior of making excuses.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
विज़ुअल लर्निंग टूल्स
अभ्यास बैंक
4 अभ्यासWhat did the minister do?
The idiom means to dodge a question, which is exactly what the minister did regarding the scandal.
Μην προσπαθείς να πετάξεις τη ______ στην ______.
The standard form of the idiom uses 'μπάλα' (ball) and 'εξέδρα' (stands).
Situation: A boss asks an employee why the report is late.
Talking about the coffee machine is a classic distraction to avoid explaining why the report is late.
- Γιατί δεν ήρθες στο ραντεβού μας; - Είχε πολλή κίνηση και μετά έπρεπε να πάω τη γάτα μου στον κτηνίατρο... - Πάλι ______ τη ______ στην ______!
The present tense 'πετάς' is used here to describe a habitual or current behavior of making excuses.
🎉 स्कोर: /4
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल
5 सवालIt's not 'vulgar', but it is confrontational. It's like saying 'I see you are avoiding the question.' Use it with friends or in debates, but not with people you need to be very polite to.
Yes! You can say 'Πέταξα τη μπάλα στην εξέδρα για να γλιτώσω' (I dodged the question to save myself). It sounds self-aware and funny.
In this idiom, they are 100% interchangeable. 'Εξέδρα' is slightly more common in the idiom, but 'κερκίδα' is used just as much in sports.
Mostly, yes. It's about verbal evasion. However, you could use it to describe a written response that avoids the main point.
Yes, you could use 'υπεκφεύγω' (to evade) or 'αποφεύγω την ουσία' (avoiding the essence).
संबंधित मुहावरे
Αλλάζω κουβέντα
similarTo change the subject.
Πετάω το μπαλάκι σε κάποιον
similarTo pass the responsibility to someone else.
Πετάω χαρταετό
contrastTo be daydreaming or unaware of what's happening.
Ποιείς την νήσσαν
synonymTo play the duck (to pretend not to hear/understand).
