τσαμπουκάς

Greek

Etymology

From Turkish sabıka (“previous conviction, previous criminal record”), from sabık (“previous, former”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tsambuˈkas/
  • Hyphenation: τσα‧μπου‧κάς

Noun

τσαμπουκάς • (tsampoukás) m (plural τσαμπουκάδες)

  1. (colloquial, slang) bullying behaviour, tough guy behaviour, toughness (typically linked to mangas-type people)
    πουλάω τσαμπουκά σε κάποιον ― pouláo tsampouká se kápoion ― to act the bully with someone, to play the tough guy
    (literally, 'to sell bullying behaviour to someone')
    Έρχεται εδώ ένας τύπος κάθε Σαββατόβραδο και μας πουλάει τσαμπουκά. ― Érchetai edó énas týpos káthe Savvatóvrado kai mas pouláei tsampouká. ― Every Saturday night this guy comes in and plays the tough guy to us.
  2. (colloquial, slang, by extension) bully, tough guy (person who adopts the above behaviour, usually male)
    Παίζει τον τσαμπουκά αλλά όλοι ξέρουν ότι κατά βάθος είναι δειλός. ― Paízei ton tsampouká allá óloi xéroun óti katá váthos eínai deilós. ― He acts like a tough guy but we all know that deep down he's a coward.
    Πρόσεχε σ' αυτήν την πλατεία, τριγυρνάνε ένα σωρό τσαμπουκάδες που ψάχνονται για ξύλο. ― Próseche s' aftín tin plateía, trigyrnáne éna soró tsampoukádes pou psáchnontai gia xýlo. ― Be careful in that park, there's a load of tough guys going around looking for a fight.
  3. (colloquial, slang, figuratively) boldness, guts, daring, nerve, balls (the courageousness to do something)
    Θέλεις τσαμπουκά για να πετύχεις σ' αυτή τη δουλειά. ― Théleis tsampouká gia na petýcheis s' aftí ti douleiá. ― You need guts to succeed in that job.

Declension

Synonyms

  • (bullying behaviour, toughness): μαγκιά f (magkiá), ζοριλίκι n (zorilíki), νταηλίκι n (daïlíki)
  • (bully, tough guy): μάγκας m (mágkas)

Derived terms

  • τσαμπουκαλεύομαι (tsampoukalévomai, “to act the tough guy, to cause trouble”)
  • τσαμπουκαλίκι n (tsampoukalíki, “tough guy behaviour, bullying behaviour”)
  • σπάω τον τσαμπουκά (spáo ton tsampouká, “to subjugate someone, to make someone meek”) (literally, 'to break (their) toughness)
  • τσαμπουκαλής m (tsampoukalís, “tough guy, bully”)
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