destroying angel
- noun
- /dɪˈstrɔɪɪŋ ˈeɪndʒəl/
- Specialized
:
hongo mortal
- Many people mistakenly believe the destroying angel looks harmless because of its beautiful white cap.
- a deadly destroying angel
- the destroying angel (Amanita)
Examples
-
The destroying angel, known scientifically as Amanita virosa, is among the deadliest fungi in the world.
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Thus the destroying angel has passed by me time and time again in amazing ways.
Fiction book (1990) -
Let me repeat the verse: "And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."
Fiction book (1990) -
All those who did so were bypassed by the destroying angel, who went ahead and slew the first-born of everyone else in Egypt.
Fiction book (1990) -
It says: 'And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise that the destroying angel shall pass by them even as the children of Israel and not slay them.'
Fiction book (1990) -
The destroying angel is a toxic mushroom that can cause fatal poisoning if consumed.
Synonyms
A very poisonous white mushroom with a cup-shaped base and white gills that can kill if eaten
A very poisonous white mushroom that can kill people if eaten
A very poisonous white mushroom that can kill you if you eat it
Surface Forms
Morphology
destroy + angel
This is a conventional name for a specific poisonous mushroom (Amanita) and its reference to a mushroom is not derivable from the literal parts. Although 'destroying' signals harmful or lethal force, the metaphorical use of 'angel' and the taxonomic reference to a fungus are culturally specific and unpredictable for a B1 learner who only knows the constituent words.
Etymology
Destroying angel is the name for a very poisonous white mushroom. The name comes from its pure white, angel-like look and the fact it can destroy, meaning it can 'kill', so the image reminds you the mushroom is deadly.
