Εἰς κόλπον πτύειν
to spit into [one's] lap
Translated by David Whitehead17 Apr 2003Vetting: high3 revisions
Translation
This [is] tantamount to saying 'I am careful not to be a boaster'.
Greek original · Adler’s text
Εἰς κόλπον πτύειν· τοῦτο ἐν ἴσῳ τῷ, οὐ μεγαλορημονῶ εὐλαβούμενος.
Betacode
*ei)s ko/lpon ptu/ein: tou=to e)n i)/sw| tw=|, ou) megalorhmonw= eu)labou/menos.
Notes
- Gregorius 1.93. Doing this was thought to avert evil. See e.g. Theophrastus, Characters 16.15, and other refs in LSJ s.v.
ptu/w , 4.