Meaning
To leave a place and never intend to return.
Cultural Background
The 'Anathema' was a pile of stones where people threw a stone to curse a person or a place. This is the direct ancestor of the 'black stone' idiom. The phrase is a staple in discussions about the economic crisis (2009-2018), representing the heartbreak of young Greeks leaving their country. Many 'Laika' songs use this phrase to describe a lover who left and disappeared without a trace. In Cyprus, the phrase is used identically, often emphasizing the finality of leaving a village during the 1974 conflict, though with a more tragic tone.
Use 'πίσω μου'
Adding 'πίσω μου' (behind me) makes the phrase sound much more natural and idiomatic to native ears.
Don't use for people
While you can throw a black stone at a *situation* involving a person, saying 'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα στον Γιάννη' sounds a bit like you are cursing him. It's better to say 'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα στη σχέση μας.'
Meaning
To leave a place and never intend to return.
Use 'πίσω μου'
Adding 'πίσω μου' (behind me) makes the phrase sound much more natural and idiomatic to native ears.
Don't use for people
While you can throw a black stone at a *situation* involving a person, saying 'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα στον Γιάννη' sounds a bit like you are cursing him. It's better to say 'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα στη σχέση μας.'
The 'Aorist' is King
You will hear this 90% of the time in the past tense (έριξα). It's usually a declaration of an action already decided.
Test Yourself
Συμπληρώστε το κενό με τον σωστό τύπο του ρήματος 'ρίχνω'.
Όταν έφυγε για την Αμερική, ________ μαύρη πέτρα πίσω του.
The context implies a completed action in the past (when he left).
Ποια είναι η σημασία της φράσης 'ρίχνω μαύρη πέτρα';
Η φράση σημαίνει:
The idiom refers to permanent departure and closure.
Σε ποια από τις παρακάτω περιπτώσεις είναι σωστό να χρησιμοποιήσουμε την 'μαύρη πέτρα';
Επιλέξτε την κατάλληλη κατάσταση:
The idiom requires a sense of finality and usually a negative reason for leaving.
Συμπληρώστε τον διάλογο.
- Θα ξαναπάς σε εκείνο το εστιατόριο; - Με τίποτα! ________.
'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα' fits the context of never returning to a place.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesΌταν έφυγε για την Αμερική, ________ μαύρη πέτρα πίσω του.
The context implies a completed action in the past (when he left).
Η φράση σημαίνει:
The idiom refers to permanent departure and closure.
Επιλέξτε την κατάλληλη κατάσταση:
The idiom requires a sense of finality and usually a negative reason for leaving.
- Θα ξαναπάς σε εκείνο το εστιατόριο; - Με τίποτα! ________.
'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα' fits the context of never returning to a place.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt's not rude, but it is very strong. It shows you are finished with something. Use it with friends, but maybe not in a formal job interview.
No, the color is fixed as black (μαύρη). Changing the color removes the idiomatic meaning.
Usually, yes. It implies that the place or situation was bad enough that you never want to see it again.
Yes, it is very common in Cyprus with the exact same meaning.
'Burn bridges' means you can't go back even if you wanted to. 'Throw a black stone' means you *choose* never to go back.
Yes, it's very common for breakups where you want to cut all ties.
It is 'έριξα' (I threw). Example: 'Έριξα μαύρη πέτρα.'
Not really. The idiom is inherently about leaving something negative behind.
Only if you hated living there. If you loved it, you wouldn't use this phrase.
Yes, especially on social media when moving abroad.
Related Phrases
Καίω τα γεφύρια μου
similarTo burn one's bridges.
Δεν ξαναπατάω
synonymI won't set foot there again.
Γίνομαι καπνός
similarTo vanish like smoke.
Τρώω πόρτα
contrastTo be rejected/denied entry.
