C1 Idiom カジュアル

πετάω τη μπάλα στην εξέδρα

to avoid the question

意味

Dodging a direct answer or responsibility.

🌍

文化的背景

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.

意味

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.

自分をテスト

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?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: c

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 ______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: μπάλα, εξέδρα

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.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: b

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 ______!

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

The present tense 'πετάς' is used here to describe a habitual or current behavior of making excuses.

🎉 スコア: /4

ビジュアル学習ツール

練習問題バンク

4 問題
Choose the correct meaning of the phrase in the following sentence: 'Ο υπουργός πέταξε τη μπάλα στην εξέδρα όταν ρωτήθηκε για το σκάνδαλο.' Choose B2

What did the minister do?

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: c

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. Fill Blank B1

Μην προσπαθείς να πετάξεις τη ______ στην ______.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: μπάλα, εξέδρα

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_matching C1

Situation: A boss asks an employee why the report is late.

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: b

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. dialogue_completion B2

- Γιατί δεν ήρθες στο ραντεβού μας; - Είχε πολλή κίνηση και μετά έπρεπε να πάω τη γάτα μου στον κτηνίατρο... - Πάλι ______ τη ______ στην ______!

✓ 正解! ✗ おしい! 正解: a

The present tense 'πετάς' is used here to describe a habitual or current behavior of making excuses.

🎉 スコア: /4

よくある質問

5 問

It'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).

関連フレーズ

🔗

Αλλάζω κουβέντα

similar

To change the subject.

🔗

Πετάω το μπαλάκι σε κάποιον

similar

To pass the responsibility to someone else.

🔗

Πετάω χαρταετό

contrast

To be daydreaming or unaware of what's happening.

🔄

Ποιείς την νήσσαν

synonym

To play the duck (to pretend not to hear/understand).

役に立った?
まだコメントがありません。最初に考えをシェアしましょう!