road to Damascus
2
9.0
- idiom
- Literature
:
cambio radical
- The biblical Saul of Tarsus was converted on the road to Damascus when God appeared to him in a vision.
- Paul's road to Damascus
Examples
-
The experience reminded me of Paul on the road to Damascus, except that I was lying in bed, and the voice was saying, "Carl!"
Academic text (1998) -
Paul, for instance, was not a believer when he encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus.
Academic text (2008) -
That moment, that sets us on our road to Damascus.
-
We're taught that Paul... ...on the road to Damascus, heard the voice of Christ.
-
To me, it was like Paul on the road to Damascus.
Academic text (1992) -
Then he met Jesus on the road to Damascus, and a new "neighbor" needed to be loved.
Blog text (9) -
Seems he had a "road to Damascus" moment in Guantánamo.
-
The story of Saul (Paul) on the road to Damascus being awakened to the light and life of Christ is our story as well.
Blog text (28) -
Just as St. Paul had a life-changing encounter with the living Jesus on the road to Damascus that impelled him to proclaim the Good News far and wide, we too are invited to know Christ's love in a personal way and share it with others, Archbishop John Nienstedt says in his new pastoral letter.
Blog text (9) -
After years of supporting the old policy, she had a road to Damascus moment and decided to advocate for change.
Synonyms
54
3.4
A time when a person decides they feel differently about something
5
7.3
A sudden, complete change of direction or opinion
1
9.9
A deep change in how someone thinks and lives
1
5.6
A big life event that changes how a person lives or thinks
1
9.6
A sudden complete change of opinion or plan
A time when an important change happens in a story or process
Antonyms
How Dramatic
- Literature
2
9.0
56
4.8
- Informal
54
3.4
4
2.8
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is an allusion to the biblical 'road to Damascus' conversion (Paul's sudden change of belief), so its meaning ('a dramatic change in perspective') depends on cultural/religious knowledge rather than the literal senses of 'road', 'to', and 'Damascus'. A B1 learner who only knows the constituent words would not reliably infer this figurative, culturally specific sense without prior exposure.
Etymology
Road to Damascus comes from a Bible story about Saul, who on the road to Damascus saw a bright light, heard a voice, and suddenly changed his beliefs. The picture of someone stopped on a road and completely changing their view is why the phrase means 'a sudden and important change in beliefs' today.