Ciao G-Pap

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou is departing following the quick withdrawal of his referendum gambit, as it came to be called.

The word 'gambit' turns out to be quite a prescient or fortuitous choice. Of Italian origin, the literal translation of gambetto is 'tripping up'.

Another day in the Eurozone crisis and another politician bites the dust. With G-Pap gone it's your move Herr Berlusconi.

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gambit |ˈgambit|

noun

(in chess) an opening in which a player makes a sacrifice, typically of a pawn, for the sake of some compensating advantage.

• a device, action, or opening remark, typically one entailing a degree of risk, that is calculated to gain an advantage : his resignation was a tactical gambit.

ORIGIN mid 17th cent.: originally gambett, from Italian gambetto, literally ‘tripping up,’ from gamba ‘leg.’