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Στρίψε σπάγκο

English translation: Go away you skinflint/miser/tightwad

13:47 May 28, 2008
Greek to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Rebetika
Greek term or phrase: Στρίψε σπάγκο
Hi,

I do hope I've remembered correctly – I was trying to recall a rebetiko song I heard many moons ago.

I think it went:
Στρίψε σπάγκο φύγε από δω.

Now, literally, I've no problem – “Turn, string, go away” – but why “turn” and why “string”, please?

All the best,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:49
English translation:Go away you skinflint/miser/tightwad
Explanation:
I've got the lyric in a version of the song by Haris Alexiou. Σπαγγος has as its literal meaning 'string', but can also mean words such as the above.
Selected response from:

richardc
Local time: 15:49
Grading comment
many thanks excellent
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6Go away you skinflint/miser/tightwad
richardc
4pull the string
Evi Prokopi (X)


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
pull the string


Explanation:
I am not sure what you ask, because you say "why these words", but in any case, this is the translation...

Evi Prokopi (X)
Local time: 17:49
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Go away you skinflint/miser/tightwad


Explanation:
I've got the lyric in a version of the song by Haris Alexiou. Σπαγγος has as its literal meaning 'string', but can also mean words such as the above.

richardc
Local time: 15:49
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
many thanks excellent

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nadia-Anastasia Fahmi
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Nadia, καλό βράδυ
agree  Diamantis Konstantinidis: "Beat it" fits fine I think.
2 hrs
  -> Can't disagree, thanks
agree  Vicky Papaprodromou
4 hrs
  -> Thank you
agree  Antonia Keratsa
5 hrs
  -> Thank you
agree  Krisztina Lelik: σπάγκος//. O.K. sorry and thanks for the information. (All my dictionaries and spell checking softwears are outdated.)
13 hrs
  -> Yes, both spellings are valid - thank you.
agree  Spiros Doikas
17 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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