modern-day Jezebel
- noun
- /ˈmɒdərn deɪ ˈdʒɛzəˌbɛl/
- Offensive
- She is often called a modern-day Jezebel for her flirtatious behavior.
Examples
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Some critics labeled the character a modern-day Jezebel for her daring lifestyle.
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The tabloids portrayed her as a modern-day Jezebel, though she insisted her actions were misunderstood.
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She was unfairly called a modern-day Jezebel because she defied social norms.
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Many people view her as a modern-day Jezebel due to her manipulative tactics.
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Many criticized her for being a modern-day Jezebel, using her charm to manipulate others.
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In the film, the protagonist encounters a modern-day Jezebel who seeks to deceive her way to power.
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She was often referred to as a modern-day Jezebel because of her provocative behavior and numerous affairs.
Synonyms
A woman seen as shameless or immoral, often used as an insult
A woman who uses charm to make a man lose power or get into trouble
How Seductive
Surface Forms
Morphology
modern-day + Jezebel
The phrase simply combines 'modern-day' (contemporary) with 'Jezebel' (a derogatory biblical label for a conniving/immoral woman), so the meaning—a contemporary woman likened to Jezebel—is directly derived from its parts. The modifier+referent pattern is common across languages, making the sense immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Modern-day Jezebel comes from the Bible queen Jezebel, who was shown as powerful and cruel and who used charm and tricks to control others. So, calling someone a modern-day Jezebel compares her to that queen and suggests she is 'promiscuous or manipulative'.