at the Greek calends

at the Greek calends
шутл.
(at (on или to) the Greek calends (или kalends))
до греческих календ, никогда (ср. после дождичка в четверг; обыкн. to put off to the Greek Calends отложить на неопределённое время, отложить в долгий ящик) [этим. лат. ad calendas или kalendas Graecas шутл. до греческих календ (у греков не было календ)]

‘A cab was ordered to take the Signorina to the boat,’ he said, giving her the money. ‘Well, she isn't going, and asked me last night to settle it for her. Give the cabman this, and tell him he can come back at the Greek Calends.’ ‘When, Signore?’ ‘At the Greek Calends. He'll understand.’ (R. Aldington, ‘All Men Are Enemies’, part IV, ch. VIII) — - Синьорина заказала извозчика к пароходу, - сказал он, отдавая девушке деньги, - но она не едет и просила меня вчера вечером сказать вам об этом. Дайте это извозчику и скажите ему, чтобы он приезжал после дождика в четверг. - Когда, когда, синьор? - После дождика в четверг. Он поймет.


Большой англо-русский фразеологический словарь. - М.: «Русский язык-Медиа».. 2006.

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Смотреть что такое "at the Greek calends" в других словарях:

  • The Greek calends — Calends Cal ends, n. pl. [OE. kalendes month, calends, AS. calend month, fr. L. calendae; akin to calare to call, proclaim, Gr. ??????. CF. {Claim}.] The first day of each month in the ancient Roman calendar. [Written also {kalends}.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • the Greek calends — Never (the Greeks having no calends) • • • Main Entry: ↑Greek …   Useful english dictionary

  • the Greek Calends —    never    The Romans were meant to settle their taxes and other accounts on the Calends, or first day, of each month, but the Greek calendar had no Calends:     The emergence of chaos in Germany ... would put off the pacification of Europe to… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • greek calends — noun plural or greek kalends Usage: usually capitalized G Etymology: translation of Latin kalendas graecas (in ad kalendas graecas solvere to go without paying, literally, to pay at the Greek calends); from the fact that the Greeks did not reckon …   Useful english dictionary

  • Greek calends — a point or time that does not or will not exist: She will do it on the Greek calends. Also, Greek kalends. * * * …   Universalium

  • Greek calends — Greek Greek, a. [AS. grec, L. Graecus, Gr. ?: cf. F. grec. Cf. {Grecian}.] Of or pertaining to Greece or the Greeks; Grecian. [1913 Webster] {Greek calends}. See under {Greek calends} in the vocabulary. {Greek Church} (Eccl. Hist.), the Eastern… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Greek calends — or Greek kalends Greek kalends A time that will never come, as the Greeks had no calends. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Greek calends — Greek kalends or calends A metaphorical expression for a time never likely to arrive, inasmuch as the Greeks had no calends …   Black's law dictionary

  • Greek calends — Greek kalends or calends A metaphorical expression for a time never likely to arrive, inasmuch as the Greeks had no calends …   Black's law dictionary

  • Calends — The Calends (Latin Kalendae the called , gen. plural arum ), correspond to the first days of each month of the Roman calendar. The Romans assigned these calends to the first day of the month, signifying the start of the new moon… …   Wikipedia

  • Calends — Cal ends, n. pl. [OE. kalendes month, calends, AS. calend month, fr. L. calendae; akin to calare to call, proclaim, Gr. ??????. CF. {Claim}.] The first day of each month in the ancient Roman calendar. [Written also {kalends}.] [1913 Webster] {The …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English


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