a sword of Damocles

a sword of Damocles
a/the sword of ˈDamocles idiom
(literary) a bad or unpleasant thing that might happen to you at any time and that makes you feel worried or frightened From the legend in which Damocles had to sit at a meal at the court of Dionysius with a sword hanging by a single hair above his head. He had praised Dionysius' happiness, and Dionysius wanted him to understand how quickly happiness can be lost.
Main entry: ↑swordidiom

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • sword of Damocles — sword of Dam|o|cles [ ,sɔrd əv dæməkliz ] noun singular LITERARY something that is always present as a danger or threat to a person, place, or situation: The nuclear sword of Damocles hangs over the region by a thread …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • sword of Damocles — UK [ˌsɔː(r)d əv ˈdæməkliːz] / US [ˌsɔrd əv ˈdæməklɪz] noun [singular] literary something that is always present as a danger or a threat to a person, place, or situation The nuclear sword of Damocles hangs over the region by a thread …   English dictionary

  • sword of Damocles — noun a constant and imminent peril the possibility hangs over their heads like the sword of Damocles • Hypernyms: ↑hazard, ↑jeopardy, ↑peril, ↑risk, ↑endangerment …   Useful english dictionary

  • sword of Damocles — sword′ of Dam′ocles n. cvb any situation threatening imminent harm or disaster • Etymology: 1810–20 …   From formal English to slang

  • the sword of Damocles — /damˈə klēz/ The visible prospect of imminent calamity (from Damocles, the Syracuse courtier, forced to sit through a feast with a sword suspended over his head by a single hair) • • • Main Entry: ↑sword * * * a/the sword of ˈDamocles idiom… …   Useful english dictionary

  • sword of Damocles — [ daməkli:z] noun a precarious situation. Origin with ref. to Damocles, a courtier who praised the happiness of the Greek ruler Dionysius I so much that the king made him feast sitting under a sword suspended by a single hair to show him how… …   English new terms dictionary

  • sword of Damocles. — See Damocles (def. 2). [1810 20] * * * …   Universalium

  • sword of Damocles — noun an immediate threat or danger, especially in otherwise favourable circumstances. {from the Greek legend of Damocles} …  

  • sword of Damocles. — See Damocles (def. 2). [1810 20] …   Useful english dictionary

  • (a) sword of Damocles hangs over someone's head — a sword of Damocles hangs over (someone s) head literary, literary if a sword of Damocles hangs over someone, they are in a situation where something bad is likely to happen to them very soon. You live with this sword of Damocles hanging over… …   New idioms dictionary

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