Victor Frankenstein
- noun
- /ˈvɪktər ˈfræŋkənstaɪn/
- Literature
:
Frankenstein moderno
- Investors feared the startup would act like a Victor Frankenstein, unleashing technology it could not control.
Examples
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The columnist warned that the company could become a Victor Frankenstein of artificial intelligence.
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He was called a Victor Frankenstein after the experiment created more problems than solutions.
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Don't become a Victor Frankenstein!
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Many consider Victor Frankenstein a cautionary tale about unchecked ambition.
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The columnist warned that the company could become a Victor Frankenstein of artificial intelligence.
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Investors feared the startup would act like a Victor Frankenstein, unleashing technology it could not control.
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He was called a Victor Frankenstein after the experiment created more problems than solutions.
Synonyms
A scientist whose work many people see as dangerous or unethical
How Dangerous
- Offensive
- Literature
38
4.3
108
3.0
729
3.2
- Specialized
184
3.7
12
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
Victor + Frankenstein
This is a culturally specific literary reference rather than a compositional phrase: knowing the name 'Victor' and the form 'Frankenstein' does not let a learner derive the metaphorical sense without knowledge of Mary Shelley’s story and how ‘Frankenstein’ is used as a cultural metaphor for a creator whose creation causes harm. The meaning depends on world-knowledge and conventional metaphorical use, so it is not predictably derivable from the constituent words for a B1 learner.
Etymology
Victor Frankenstein is used for people or groups who build powerful things that cause trouble. The story gives the clear image of a maker who creates a monster he cannot control, so calling someone Victor Frankenstein warns they may make something 'dangerous' or 'out of control'.