death star
- noun
- /dɛθ stɑr/
- Informal
:
estrella de la muerte
- The new tech company is often referred to as the Death Star of the industry due to its overwhelming influence over smaller startups.
I mean to build a marketing and communications Death Star, which is funny to be in this office.
- I mean to build a marketing and communications Death Star, which is funny to be in this office.
Examples
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As the largest retailer in the region, it has become a Death Star, overshadowing all local businesses.
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Critics argue that the legislation is a Death Star that threatens the privacy of everyday citizens.
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I mean to build a marketing and communications Death Star, which is funny to be in this office.
How Powerful
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun combines 'death' (destruction) and 'star' (a prominent body or person), so a learner who knows both words can infer a sense of something notable that causes or embodies destruction. However, the specific cultural reference (the Star Wars space station) and the extended metaphorical use to mean a dominant/threatening organization are not fully predictable from the parts alone, making the expression only partially transparent to B1 learners.
Etymology
The noun death star comes from the giant weapon in the Star Wars films that could destroy whole planets. The image of a huge, dangerous machine, a death star in space, helps people call any very powerful company or project a 'threat' to smaller rivals, so the phrase means a force that can crush others.