Greek Food Idioms: Meanings and How to Use Them in Context

Food and drink words can appear in conversations that are not about a meal. Practise two expressions by distinguishing the literal scene from the speaker’s intention. The short situations below are original teaching examples; they are not quotations from a writer or explanations of an idiom’s historical origin.

Two expressions to recognise

Read the situation before choosing the meaning

Θέλω να συναντηθούμε στις έξι, αλλά η Άννα μπορεί στις επτά. Θα βάλω λίγο νερό στο κρασί μου.

I want us to meet at six, but Anna can manage seven. I will compromise a little. The disagreement about time supports the figurative reading; the speaker has not described a drink.

Το κρασί είναι πολύ δυνατό. Βάζω λίγο νερό στο ποτήρι μου.

The wine is very strong. I am putting a little water in my glass. Here a literal action is described. The presence of νερό and κρασί alone does not make every sentence an idiom.

Notice the attitude, not just the dictionary meaning

Λες ότι έκανες όλη τη δουλειά μόνος σου, αλλά είδα τη Μαρία να σε βοηθά. Δεν τρώω κουτόχορτο.

You say you did all the work yourself, but I saw Maria helping you. I am not going to be fooled. In this invented exchange, the expression challenges the other person’s account. If your goal is a calmer clarification, you could instead ask Τι ακριβώς έκανε η Μαρία; — What exactly did Maria do?

Check meaning and tone

1. In the meeting-time example, does the speaker describe diluting a drink or making a concession?
2. Does the literal glass example prove that every mention of water and wine is figurative?
3. Does δεν τρώω κουτόχορτο mean the speaker believes the account without question?
4. Which is the more neutral clarification in the work example: Δεν τρώω κουτόχορτο or Τι ακριβώς έκανε η Μαρία;

Rewrite for your purpose

Replace the idiom in the meeting example with a plain statement accepting seven o’clock. Then rewrite the work example as a question about Maria’s contribution. Read both versions aloud and decide whether your purpose is agreement, clarification or confrontation.

Other ways to say it

• Έβαλα νερό στο κρασί μου. — “I compromised”, in the past; Βάλε λίγο νερό στο κρασί σου! — “Meet me halfway!”, an informal request.
• Ας βρούμε μια μέση λύση. — “Let’s find a middle ground”, a neutral way to propose a compromise without an idiom.
• Δεν τρώει κουτόχορτο. — “He/she isn’t easily fooled”; said about someone else, it often sounds like praise.
• Δεν με ξεγελάς. — “You can’t fool me”, just as direct; Δεν είμαι σίγουρος ότι είναι έτσι. — “I’m not sure that’s right”, much softer.

Common mistakes

• Keeping μου when the person changes: Η Άννα έβαλε νερό στο κρασί της, not στο κρασί μου.
• Using δεν τρώω κουτόχορτο with a teacher, a client or your manager: it can sound like an accusation.
• Reading every sentence with νερό and κρασί as an idiom: check the situation first, as in the glass example.
• Translating word for word: “I put water in my wine” means little to most English speakers; explain the meaning instead.

FAQ

What does “βάζω νερό στο κρασί μου” mean? It means you moderate your demands or accept a compromise, as in the meeting-time example.

What does “δεν τρώω κουτόχορτο” mean? “I’m not gullible; you won’t fool me.” The word joins κουτός, silly, and χόρτο, grass, but the meaning is figurative.

How do you say “let’s compromise” in Greek? A neutral option is Ας βρούμε μια μέση λύση. Among friends, Θα βάλω λίγο νερό στο κρασί μου works too.

Continue with context and register

Arrange a meeting in Greek · Explore register and precision