to rise like Lazarus from the ashes

9.8

To recover successfully after being ruined or failing completely

idiom

Literature

: resurgir como Lázaro de las cenizas

Despite bankruptcy, the company managed to rise like Lazarus from the ashes within just two years.

Examples

The town, destroyed by the wildfire, is now rising like Lazarus from the ashes thanks to community efforts.
After years of obscurity, the artist rose like Lazarus from the ashes with a groundbreaking exhibition.
The town can rise like Lazarus from the ashes!
After the scandal, the company managed to rise like Lazarus from the ashes!
After years of obscurity, the artist rose like Lazarus from the ashes with a groundbreaking exhibition.
Despite bankruptcy, the company managed to rise like Lazarus from the ashes within just two years.
The town, destroyed by the wildfire, is now rising like Lazarus from the ashes thanks to community efforts.

Synonyms

to rise

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

Literature

111 8.5

To come back to life after death

is a metaphorical recovery after complete ruin rather than literal return

to rebound

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

42 4.3

To get back to normal after a problem

is revival from total collapse rather than a quick bounce back

to rise again

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

35 5.7

Come back to life or return to activity after a time away

is revival specifically from complete ruin rather than simple return

to come back from the dead

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

Informal

15 5.5

Become successful or active again after a long time away

is recovery after complete ruin rather than mere return to activity

to rise from the ashes

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

5 5.7

Become successful again after a big loss or disaster

is recovery specifically after total ruin or complete failure

to return from the dead

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

5 7.9

To come back to life or appear again after people thought it was gone

is revival after total failure rather than literal reappearance

to rise like a phoenix

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

Literature

1 7.4

To recover and become stronger after a very hard time

is recovery after total ruin rather than just renewal

like a phoenix from the ashes

vsto rise like Lazarus from the ashes

Informal

1 8.1

To become strong again after serious damage or trouble

is recovery specifically from complete failure or ruin

Antonyms

to fail

370 2.2

Stop working properly, as a machine or part

How Recovered

reborn

12 4.4

to rise like Lazarus from the ashes

Literature

9.8

to rise from the ashes

5 5.7

to recover

748 2.5

to survive

∞ 2.7

Surface Forms

rise like Lazarus from the ashes infinitive

rising like Lazarus from the ashes present participle

rises like Lazarus from the ashes third person singular

rose like Lazarus from the ashes past

risen like Lazarus from the ashes past participle

Morphology

rise + like + Lazarus + from + the + ash

The components 'rise' and 'from the ashes' transparently suggest recovery or coming back after destruction, but the full force of the phrase depends on the allusion to the biblical figure Lazarus (resurrection) and the idiomatic image of rebirth from ashes. A B1 learner who only knows the literal words may grasp a general sense of recovery but would likely miss the culturally specific resurrection/allusive nuance without prior exposure.

Etymology

Rise like Lazarus from the ashes mixes two strong images: Lazarus, a man from the Bible who was brought back to life, and the picture of something growing again from ashes after a fire. That's why it means 'to recover completely' or 'come back after total ruin'.