One indicator of progress in language learning is one’s ability to produce synonyms. Greek has several words for slap. A small list of nouns and their verbs:
χαστούκι χαστουκίζω
σφαλιάρα σφαλιαρίζω
μπάτσα μπατσίζω (μπάτσος is also slang for a policeman!)
κόλαφος κολαφίζω (used mainly metaphorically)
But one should never underestimate the capacity of Greek to surprise you with yet another synonym:
χειροδικώ χειροδικία
It cropped in reports following an incident at Athens Airport in which two behaviours prove beyond doubt that someone is a complete arsehole. The first is when a public figure shouts, “Do you know who I am? And the second is the chutzpah to brazen something out despite all the evidence against you.
The arsehole is a New Democracy MP and former minister called Avgenakis. Arriving at the gate after “Gate Closed” sign was up, he started shouting at a member of the ground staff. This was the Do-You-Know-Who-I-Am moment, which quickly escalated to violence during which he was filmed slapping (or trying to) the same employee. Despite the evidence, Avgenakis described it as a λεκτική επίθεση (verbal attack).
Avgenakis has now lost the New Democracy whip in parliament, but he has not been expelled from the party.
This article gives some idea of the kind of scum that can get into any parliament: https://www.documentonews.gr/article/leyteris-aygenakis-vios-kai-politeia-toy-xereis-poios-eimai-ego-re/
Two things come to mind. The first is the power of Crete in Greek politics. The surname suffix -akis (-άκης) indicates that people or their forefathers are from Crete. At just over 600,000 people, 5% of the Greek population, the island is over-represented in Greek politics. The PM and the leaders of the two main opposition parties all have Cretan connections: Mitsotakis, Kasselakis and Androulakis. Unsurprisingly, Avgenakis wanted to board a flight to Iraklion, Crete’s largest town.
Second, I wonder if there is a “slapping hierarchy” in Greek politics. Several years ago, a Golden Dawn thug, Kasidiaris, slapped Lia Kanelli on live TV: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nte1UtRww_k He is currently in jail but not for the slap. Anyway, the point I’m trying to make is that this rabble-rouser’s act of violence was described as a χαστούκι, whereas the ex-minister’s similar act of violence is elevated to the more pretentious and semi-obsolete χειροδικία.
Finally, the above article’s headline contains the words βίος και πολιτεία, which is usually translated as “life and times”. Zorba the Greek’s original title is Βίος και Πολιτεία του Αλέξη Ζορμπά. However, it is often used as an adjectival phrase. If you say that someone είναι βίος και πολιτεία, it is anything but a compliment.