IdiomFood & Drink
Greek
GreekΠιάστηκε στα πράσα
Meaning: Caught red-handed.
Literally: Caught in the leeks
Example: “Ο μικρός πιάστηκε στα πράσα με το χέρι στο βάζο με τα μπισκότα.” — The little boy was caught red-handed with his hand in the cookie jar.
English equivalent: To catch someone red-handed
Origin: "Caught in the leeks": caught red-handed. The usual explanation is a thief caught stealing leeks from a garden, where the low plants left nowhere to hide; the story is traditional rather than documented.
Equivalents in other languages
Swedish: Skägget i brevlådan Literally: With your beard in the mailbox
English: catch someone red-handed
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- Μασάω τα λόγια μου To mumble and not speak plainly.
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- Τα έκανε θάλασσα He made a complete mess of it.
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