Dan Smith
"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."
Warning: see Richard's comment. Do NOT use the name of Homer's other epic poem--the one whose name begins with <em style="color: rgb(230, 0, 0);">O</em>--in an italki posting.

Adrian's "gift horse" posting reminded me of the saying "beware of Greeks bearing gifts."

This a reference to the story of the Trojan Horse in Homer's <em>Iliad.</em> I think it actually comes to us by way of the Roman poet, Virgil. In his great epic poem, the <em>Aeneid</em>, Virgil wrote:

<em>Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes</em> (I fear the Greeks, even when they bear gifts).

The "gift," of course, was the "Trojan horse." The Greeks had been unable to get within the walls of Troy. The Trojans accepted the gift and brought it inside their walls. It had Greek warriors hidden inside.

Because of its Greek and Latin origins, I would expect versions of this saying to exist in many European languages.

In English, the usual version is slightly paraphrased: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts."

The phrase "Trojan horse" has become an idiom for this kind of trick. For example, in computer security, someone might download a free game, in order to get the game. By authorizing the download, the user allows the game to be installed on their computer. It contains a "Trojan horse," malware that is installed along with the game.

"Beware of Greeks bearing gifts" has lent itself to jokes and puns. Because the Trojan horse was carrying Greek warriors, a joking version of the saying is "Beware of gifts bearing Greeks," or "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts bearing Greeks."

"Geeks," a word with a complicated history, can mean computer technicians with poor social skills. Trojan horse malware might be developed by "geeks." "Grift" can be a slang word for a swindle or a con game. So another joking version of the saying is the pun "Beware of geeks bearing grifts."
21 de dez de 2019 22:34
Comentários · 5
5
1/2

Combining (or rather <em>confusing</em>) the two expressions, the following is an extract of dialogue from an episode of the 70s BBC TV Series, <em>“Yes Minister”</em>, (the LSE is the <em>London School of Economics</em>, which Bernhard – below – obviously considers inferior to Oxford and Cambridge) :

21 de dezembro de 2019
5
2/2

Hacker: Sir Mark thinks there might be votes in it, and I do not intend to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Sir Humphrey: I put it to you, Minister, that you are looking a Trojan horse in the mouth.
Hacker: You mean if we look closely at this gift horse, we'll find it's full of Trojans?
Bernard: Um, if you had looked the Trojan Horse in the mouth, Minister, you would have found Greeks inside. Well, the point is that it was the Greeks who gave the Trojan horse to the Trojans, so technically it wasn't a Trojan horse at all; it was a Greek horse. Hence the tag <em>"timeo Danaos et dona ferentes"</em>, which, you will recall, is usually and somewhat inaccurately translated as "beware of Greeks bearing gifts", or doubtless you would have recalled had you not attended the LSE.
Hacker: Yes, well, I'm sure Greek tags are all very well in their way; but can we stick to the point?
Bernard: Sorry, sorry: Greek tags?
Hacker: "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." I suppose the EEC equivalent would be "Beware of Greeks bearing an olive oil surplus".
Sir Humphrey: Excellent, Minister.
Bernard: No, well, the point is, Minister, that just as the Trojan horse was in fact Greek, what you describe as a Greek tag is in fact Latin. It's obvious, really: the Greeks would never suggest bewaring of themselves, if one can use such a participle (bewaring that is). And it's clearly Latin, not because <em>timeo</em> ends in "-o", because the Greek first person also ends in "-o" – although actually there is a Greek word timao, meaning 'I honour'. But the "-os" ending is a nominative singular termination of a second declension in Greek, and an accusative plural in Latin, of course, though actually <em>Danaos</em> is not only the Greek for 'Greek'; it's also the Latin for 'Greek'. It's very interesting, really.
21 de dezembro de 2019
3
Addendum

Just in case you missed it, the death was announced this weak of the <em>“Yes Minister”</em> actor Derek Fowlds who played Bernard Woolley, the ministerial assistant . He was the last survivor of the trio, the others being Nigel Hawthorne (Sir Humphrey) and Paul Eddington (Jim Hacker). Cf dialogue below.


20 de janeiro de 2020
3
This is a great idiom/adage/proverb/expression/saying...

WARNING

The Trojan Horse was written about in the book called the Iliad.
The Iliad is often associated with another story by Homer entitled "The O-------"
DO NOT write the "O" word on italki.
I wrote the word once on italki and my profile and postings suddenly disappeared and I was banned from using the site.
I contacted italk Support and they quickly activated my account.
I believe italki is constantly scanning for viruses and other forms of malware.
Apparently there is at least one malware program that uses the "O" word.
So, DO NOT use the "O" word.

**************************************************************************

A few simple examples of the meaning of the expression, “Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

– When someone says “beware of Greeks bearing gifts” they mean that you should not trust enemies or opponents who are being friendly, showing kindness or being generous, as they may have an ulterior motive.
– Be skeptical of a present or kindness from an enemy.
– Do not trust an opponent who offers to do something nice for you.
– If rivals or enemies show apparent generosity or kindness, you should be suspicious of their motives.
– Do not trust enemies who pretend to be friends.


Usage Examples

A: "I can't believe the opposing team made us cupcakes before the big game!" 
B: "Yeah, I'd beware of Greeks bearing gifts if I were you."
 
Jill: I can't believe Melanie brought me cookies today, when we've been fighting for weeks. 
Jane: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. She probably has ulterior motives. 

 “After spreading rumors about me to all my friends, Casandra suddenly wants to take me out to lunch. Robbie told me to beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”

“Before you trust that snake Edward to help you in your business, I’ll remind you: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.”


22 de dezembro de 2019
2
As the extract below mentions, the horse was used by the Greeks to smuggle their men into Troy. We are probably now stuck with the expression "Trojan horse", but it was in fact Greek!
25 de dezembro de 2019