To play the Greek
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
To indulge in one's cups. The Greeks have always been considered a luxurious race, fond of creature comforts. The rule in Greek banquets was E pithi e apithi (Quaff, or be off!).
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “To play the Greek” mean?
To indulge in one's cups. The Greeks have always been considered a luxurious race, fond of creature comforts. The rule in Greek banquets was E pithi e apithi (Quaff, or be off!).
Is “To play the Greek” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.