and now for something completely different

Mari Broman Olsen (molsen@umiacs.umd.edu)
Tue, 10 Dec 1996 07:15:19 -0500 (EST)

Here's a request from the LINGUIST list, which may be of interest to
b-greek members:

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Date: Sun, 8 Dec 1996 16:24:17 GMT
From: Nikos Sarantakos <sarant@innet.lu>
Subject: Proverbial expressions in Modern Greek

Dear all,

I am studying proverbial expressions in Modern Greek.

A proverbial expression in Modern Greek is: "Tha gelasei kai to
pardalo katsiki", which may be translated as "Even the multi-coloured
goat will laugh at it", said about something totally ridiculous.
Trying to trace the origins of the phrase, I am wondering whether
there are any parallel forms in other languages.

Then, another expression, said about very clever and cunning persons,
more
as a praise than otherwise, is "Einai diabolou kaltsa", i.e. "He is a
devil's sock". Does it ring any bells?

Thanks in advance

Nikos Sarantakos
sarant@innet.lu

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Mari Broman Olsen
Research Associate

University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies
3141 A.V. Williams Building
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742

(301) 405-6754 FAX: (301) 314-9658
molsen@umiacs.umd.edu

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