Cartoon: Greek Debt Crisis

BACKGROUND
Holidaymakers heading to Greece over the next few days are being advised to take plenty of cash with them amid fears the country’s cash machines could be shut down if a resolution to the crisis is not found. As the Greek people continued to empty the country’s banks, with €1.2bn (£857m) withdrawn on Thursday alone, fears have grown that the banking system could be shut down. Around 2 million Brits travel to Greece each year and falling prices in recent months led to big surge in bookings to the country, according to Abta, the group which represents travel agents and tour operators. It is advising travellers to take “plenty of cash and a mixture of other payment methods so that they are covered for all situations”. Full story >>

THE CARTOON
The cartoon by Kipper Williams from The Guardian shows a couple about to board a holiday flight to Greece. They are carrying a cash machine. The woman comments, 'We're not taking any chances.'

EXPLANATION
They'll still be able to get money from their personal cash machine even if the Greek ATMs are shut down.

LANGUAGE
If you say that you are not taking any chances, it means that you are not taking any risks. In this context a chance is a possibility that something negative will happen. • I'm delivering my work by hand - I'm not taking any chances.

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