sword of damocles

Englisch - Türkisch

Definition von sword of damocles im Englisch Türkisch wörterbuch

(deyim) Demokles'in kılıcı, her an tehdit eden bir tehlike

her an tehdit eden tehlike

demokles'in kılıcı

Englisch - Englisch

Definition von sword of damocles im Englisch Englisch wörterbuch

A thing or situation which causes a prolonged state of impending doom or misfortune

{i} fable representing danger in a battle, threat, fear

Constant threat; imminent peril: "the Latin American debt, overhanging American banks like the sword of Damocles" (Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.)

a constant and immanent peril; "the possibility hangs over their heads like the sword of Damocles

Silbentrennung

sword of Da·mo·cles

Türkische aussprache

sôrd ıv dämıkliz

Aussprache

/ˈsôrd əv ˈdaməˌklēz/ /ˈsɔːrd əv ˈdæməˌkliːz/

Etymologie

() From the following story: Damocles was an obsequious courtier in the court of Dionysius II of Syracuse, a fourth century BC tyrant of Syracuse. Damocles exclaimed that, as a great man of power and authority, Dionysius was truly fortunate. Dionysius offered to switch places with him for a day, so he could taste first hand that fortune. In the evening a banquet was held where Damocles very much enjoyed being waited upon like a king. Only at the end of the meal did he look up and notice a sharpened sword hanging directly above his head by a single horse-hair. Immediately, he lost all taste for the amenities and asked leave of the tyrant, saying he no longer wanted to be so fortunate. Dionysius had successfully conveyed a sense of the constant fear in which the great man lives.