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literary idioms

Terms in this set (36)

a roman holiday
an occasion where enjoyment is derived from others suffering
to eat crow
Humiliation after taking a strong position and being proved wrong
abraham's bosom
heaven
to catch a tartar
Deal with something troublesome
a greek gift
a gift that looks good but is actually bad
to kick the bucket
M: died (to die) O: when people watched a person being hanged, the bucket would be kicked from under the person's feet and then they would die
between scylla and charybdis
finding oneself between two dangers where escaping from one means falling prey to the other
to turn the cat in the pan
Traitor, to go to the winning side
a white elephant
a costly and useless possession
to cry wolf
False alarm
job's comforters
fake comforting
to talk like a dutch uncle
Criticize without feeling badly
sour grapes
disparagement of something that one does not or cannot have
to carry coals coals to newcastle
not needed
to cut the gordian knot
to solve a difficult problem by direct and drastic means
to tilt at windmills
to fight imaginary enemies
a mare's nest
complex or difficult origin
hobson's choice
Choice of taking what is offered or nothing at all
a procrustean bed
making everyone the same even though it is harmful
born to the purple
Someone who is born to the purple is born in a royal or aristocratic family. ("Born in the purple" is also used.)
A pyrrhic victory
a victory won at too great a cost
the goose hangs high
all is well
to play ducks and drakes
squander resources
crossing the rubicon
to take an irreversible step, often involving some danger
to make bricks without straw
to attempt to do something without having the necessary materials
achilles heel
weak spot
a pound of flesh
something that has to be repaid
to run with the hare and hunt with the hounds
to support both sides of a dispute
bread and circuses
activities meant to keep people happy without addressing the real problem
waterloo
biggest defeat
the emperor's new clothes
Pointing out the falseness or pretentiousness of something
the sword of damocles
any imminent danger
the lion's share
The major portion
to bell the cat
To do something which is very dangerous
a Parthian shot
A sharp telling remark made in departing
to show the white feather
Behave in a cowardly fashion
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