ἐρέπτομαι
πολλὰ μεταξὺ πέλει κύλικος καὶ χείλεος ἄκρου → there is many a slip twixt cup and lip, there's many a slip twixt cup and lip, there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip, there's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip, there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip
English (LSJ)
A feed on, c. acc., only in pres. part., mostly of granivorous animals, λωτόν, κρῖ λευκόν, πυρὸν ἐρεπτόμενοι, Il.2.776,5.196, Od.19.553, al.; of men, λωτὸν ἐ. 9.97, AP9.618 ; βότρυν ib.7.20 ; of fish, δημὸν ἐ. feeding on the fat of a carcase, Il.21.204.—Ep. Verb, used burlesquely by Ar.Eq.1295, ἐρεπτόμενον τὰ τῶν ἐχόντων:—Act., ἐρέπτω eat, Nonn.D.40.306 ; also causal,=τρέφω, Hsch.
German (Pape)
[Seite 1025] (nach Hesych. ἐρέπτω = τρέφω; eigtl. rupfen, wie weidende Thiere, bes. Rinder fressen, grasen), nur part. pr., fressen, verzehren, gew. von Pflanzen fressenden Thieren, λωτόν, κρῖ λευκόν, πυρόν, Il. 2, 776. 5, 196. 7, 564 Od. 19, 553; δημόν, das Fett eines Leichnams, von Fischen, Il. 21, 202; ψάμμον Opp. H. 1, 96, von Menschen, λωτόν Od. 9, 97, wie En. ad. 335 (IX, 618); βότρυν Simon. 105 (VII, 20). Dah. komisch, von Kleonymus, φασὶν αὐτὸν ἐρεπτόμενον τὰ τῶν ἀνέρων Ar. Equ. 1295.
