Cave of Adullam
- proper noun
- Literature
:
Cueva de Adulam
- The Cave of Adullam served as a refuge for many during the crisis.
Examples
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The activists described their meeting place as a Cave of Adullam for those fighting injustice.
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During the tough times, the community center became a Cave of Adullam for those seeking help and support.
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After his failure, he retreated to his own Cave of Adullam to recover.
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Literature often refers to the Cave of Adullam as a source of strength for the downtrodden.
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Many artists find inspiration in the Cave of Adullam.
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After losing his job, he found solace in his local Cave of Adullam, where he could share his struggles with others.
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In her stories, she often describes the Cave of Adullam as a safe place for those who feel marginalized by society.
Synonyms
A secret cave that appears in old stories
How Safe
Surface Forms
Morphology
Cave + of + Adullam
Although 'cave' is a transparent noun, the full idiomatic meaning 'a refuge for the marginalized' depends on the biblical place-name Adullam and cultural knowledge about its story; a B1 learner who only knows the literal words would at best infer a physical cave but not the metaphorical sense. Because the phrase's meaning arises from a specific cultural/historical reference rather than regular compositional rules, it is not derivable from the constituents and requires prior exposure.
Etymology
Cave of Adullam comes from a Bible story where David fled King Saul and many needy people joined him in a cave to hide. Because the cave sheltered those who were weak or in trouble, the phrase now means 'a safe place' or 'a place of refuge' for people who need support.