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Headword: *to\n cu/onta a)nticu/ein
Adler number: tau,767
Translated headword: to scratch the scratcher back
Vetting Status: high
Translation:
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those harming someone, or even ministering to them.[1] The metaphor [comes] from donkeys, inasmuch as they are scratched by each other and scratch back.
Greek Original:
*to\n cu/onta a)nticu/ein: e)pi\ tw=n blapto/ntwn tina/s, h)\ kai\ qerapeuo/ntwn. h( de\ metafora\ a)po\ tw=n o)/nwn, paro/son e)kei=noi u(p' a)llh/lwn knh/qontai kai\ a)ntiknh/qousi.
Notes:
Epicharmus fr. 147 K.-A.; Gregorius 3.78, Apostolius 17.20, etc.; Tosi [see under alpha 378] no.477.
See also xi 91.
[1] Thus modern equivalents would be 'what goes around, comes around' for the former, and 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' for the latter. (Diogenianus 8.48 has the latter only.)
Keywords: comedy; daily life; ethics; imagery; proverbs; zoology
Translated by: David Whitehead on 15 December 2002@10:27:18.
Vetted by:
Catharine Roth on 16 December 2002@17:10:38.
David Whitehead (another keyword) on 18 October 2005@07:01:27.
David Whitehead (tweaks) on 14 August 2011@09:57:20.
David Whitehead on 15 August 2012@07:52:14.
David Whitehead on 14 January 2014@06:47:29.
David Whitehead on 21 December 2014@11:35:12.

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