Best wishes to an actor before a play

[cosmasad]

... or to a musician before a performance, friends. Is there a Greek expression that is appropriate like "Shake a leg" is in English?

Or ;) for that matter to a school teacher before they start a new year?

Thank you.

 

[Alexandra]

The only wish to an artist before a performance in Greek is "Καλή επιτυχία".

The wish to a school teacher before they start a new year is "Καλή αρχή", also the same for schoolchildren.

 

[antongoun]

Or ;) for that matter to a school teacher before they start a new year?

Και "Καλή σχολική χρονιά".

 

[AoratiMelani]

The tradition among Greek actors is to say "Σκατά, σκατά, σκατά" (shit, shit, shit) to each other before they go on stage. You could say this is the equivalent of "break a leg". But it would sound weird if you said this to someone you don't know well. This is only appropriate between friends or people of the theater.

 

[Marinos]

The tradition among Greek actors is to say "Σκατά, σκατά, σκατά" (shit, shit, shit) to each other before they go on stage. You could say this is the equivalent of "break a leg". But it would sound weird if you said this to someone you don't know well. This is only appropriate between friends or people of the theater.

I suppose because the French actors' equivalent is "merde".

 

[cosmasad]

I suppose because the French actors' equivalent is "merde".

But you have to be an actor to say it!

 

[Marinos]

But you have to be an actor to say it!

Then you can say καλή επιτυχία, but it is probable that your actor will consider it a bad omen!

 

[cosmasad]

If you really want to say something sincere (and not ironic) the only thing that comes to mind is "Κουράγιο" but that might sound a little negative. Like something you would say to someone who is going in for an operation.

"Σε σκεφτόμαστε" might be the most appropriate statement...

 

[Palavra]

If you really want to say something sincere (and not ironic) the only thing that comes to mind is "Κουράγιο" but that might sound a little negative. Like something you would say to someone who is going in for an operation.

"Σε σκεφτόμαστε" might be the most appropriate statement...

For someone going for an operation, you say "Σιδερένιος" or "όλα να πάνε καλά".

"Σε σκεφτόμαστε" is not wrong per se, it just sounds like a literal translation from English. To actors, you do say «σκατά», like Melani said :)

 

[anepipsogos]

Βάλτε να παίζει και το "καλή έκβαση" που το συνηθίζω (κυρίως σε σοβαρά εγχειρήματα, αλλά και εγχειρήσεις) :up:

 

[cosmasad]

That's interesting. Is "Καλη Έκβαση" appropriate though for actors (or musicians)?

 

[Palavra]

No. Only καλή επιτυχία.

 

[daeman]

Βάλτε να παίζει και το "καλή έκβαση" που το συνηθίζω (κυρίως σε σοβαρά εγχειρήματα, αλλά και εγχειρήσεις) :up:

Καλά ξετελέματα λένε αντίστοιχα στο χωριό μου, και το λέω κι εγώ, ιδίως για τα δύσκολα ή μπελαλίδικα.

 

[cosmasad]

That's a nice expression @daeman. Would you say it for a medical procedure or something else?

 

[daeman]

That's a nice expression @daeman. Would you say it for a medical procedure or something else?

For anything involving some hassle and usually (although not exclusively) when the outcome is more or less uncertain.
But please keep in mind that this expression is mostly used in Crete, so it may not be properly understood elsewhere.

[Λεξικό Κριαρά]
ξετελεύω· εξητελεύω· ξετελεύ(γ)ω· μτχ. παρκ. ξετελεμένος. Ά Μτβ. 1) Τελειώνω, αποτελειώνω: να ξετελέψεις τη δουλειά, σαν πεθυμώ (Φορτουν. Γ́ 354). 2) Αποπερατώνω: εξετέλεψέν το (ενν. το λουτρόν) (Αχιλλ. L 522). 3) (Προκ. για γάμο) συμφωνώ οριστικά, «τελειώνω»: (Φορτουν. Γ́ 98)· ξετελεμένες και ακριβές χαρές (Φορτουν. Έ 172). Β́ Αμτβ. 1) Τελειώνω: με θάνατο η μαλιά έχει να ξετελέψει (Ερωτόκρ. Δ́ 1840). 2) Φτάνω, σταματώ: φθάνει (ενν. η άλυσις) έως κάτω και ξετελεύ’ η άκρα της στου καλικιού τον πάτον (Γεωργηλ., Θαν. 145 (έκδ. ξετελεύει άκρατα 'ς· διόρθ. Πολίτης Λ.))
[<επιτ. ξε‑ + τελεύω. Ο τ. ‑γω και σήμ. κρητ. Η λ. στο Βλάχ. (λ. ξετελειώνω)]