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Glite Dictionary
Damocles

Damocles

4 9.9
A courtier forced to sit under a sword hanging by a single hair to show the danger of power
  • proper noun
  • /ˈdæməˌkliz/
  • Literature
translation icon : Damocles
  • " Apparently, we will sleep here under the sword of Damocles.
  • the sword of Damocles

Examples

  • The constant threat of failure felt like the sword of Damocles hanging over his career.

  • The sword of Damocles Is hanging over my head

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016)

  • The sword of Damocles Is hanging over my head

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let's Do the Time Warp Again (2016)

  • We all have to agree to be gentlemen, but the sword of Damocles is hanging over everybody's head.

    6 Days (2017)

  • The family then moved from Lehi to Nevada, calling the investigation a "sword of Damocles" hanging over their heads.

    Blog text (20)

  • The imminent threat of a revised Chambers Law hung over the heads of CANACINTRA leaders like the sword of Damocles.

    Academic text (2000)

  • The Liberals were seemingly caught between a rock and a hard place, with the threat of American retaliation hanging like the sword of Damocles over their heads if the government did not bow to administration wishes.

    Academic text (2004)

  • She often mentioned the sword of Damocles when discussing the risks of high office.

  • Living under the sword of Damocles made it hard for him to enjoy his success.

Idioms

sword of Damocles
  • Literature
2 9.7

A constant danger that can happen to someone at any time

Surface Forms

Damocles main

Etymology

Damocles comes from an old Greek story about a man who sat under a 'sword' hanging by a single 'hair' to show how danger can be always near those with power. So a Damocles situation means living with a constant, serious threat even when everything seems fine.