Studied by 90 people
Scrooge
a bitter and/or greedy person
Ivory tower
A person who is secluded or protected from the real world and thus out of touch with reality
Catch 22
a lose lose situation
Achilles heel
weak point
All that glitters is not gold
appearances can be deceptive
15 minutes of fame
things that are popular for a short amount of time
Crocodile tears
to show false sympathy for someone
Pandora's box
Something that opens the door for bad occurrences, opened by someone known for curiosity
Nemesis
someone or something a person cannot conquer or achieve; a hated enemy
Albatross Around One's Neck
(two meanings) a seabird; a constant burden
Freudian slip
a verbal mistake that is thought to reveal an unconscious belief, thought, or emotion
Herculean
very difficult; requiring the strength of Hercules
Benedict Arnold
A traitor
Magnum Opus
the greatest work of an artist, writer, or composer
Phoenix
a mythical bird that is revived from its own ashes
Scylla and Charybdis
Two equally dangerous alternatives (caught between a rock and a hard place)
Jekyll and Hyde
A capricious person with two sides to their personality
The Emperor's New Clothes
pointing out the falseness or pretentiousness of something
Machivellian
amoral or unconcerned with what is right and wrong
Narcissus
a beautiful young man who fell in love with his own reflection (self-obsessed)
big brother
a person or organization exercising total control over people's lives.
Einstein
super smart
Watergate
a political scandal involving abuse of power and bribery and obstruction of justice
Waterloo
Battle in Belgium that was Napoleon's final defeat
Sleep with the fishes
Dead, often by murder
Pooh-bah
a person holding many public or private offices
mercurial
quick, shrewd, and unpredictable
Witch hunt
a campaign against a particular group of people, often those holding unorthodox opinions or behaving in an unconventional manner
Throwing down the gauntlet
issue a challenge in a dramatic manner
El Dorado
a place of reputed wealth; from the legendary city in South America, sought by early Spanish explorers
muse
someone's source of inspiration, especially in artistic, creative endeavors
Frankenstein
anything that threatens or destroys its creator
something that is made up of many differing parts
Handwriting on the wall
indication that doom or misfortune is coming
Stonewall
Holding something back/ obstructing something
Riot Act
A reprimand or a serious warning
Tabula Rasa
This term literally translates into "blank slate." It refers to the idea that humans are born with a blank mind that is filled with information through socialization.
Lothario
a charming young man who seduces and deceives women
Sirens
Creatures whose songs lure sailors to their deaths
Bedlam
A scene of uproar and confusion
Sound and Fury
a great, tumultuous, and passionate uproar that actually is unimportant or meaningless
Casanova
Promiscuous man who is unscrupulous in his dealings with women
Yoda
Used to describe someone wise/ with experience
Yahoo
a boorish, crass, or stupid person
Pelé
To describe something amazing or wonderful
Shanghai
To force/ coerce someone to work for you (or kidnapped)
Sold down the river
to be betrayed or misled, especially by someone trusted
Aphrodite
To describe someone very beautiful
Mona Lisa
Signify an unreadable smile
Stealing someones thunder
to take credit for the idea of another or to lessen the effect of another's idea by suggesting the same idea first
Pound of Flesh
Used to describe someone's insistence on being repaid, even if the repayment will destroy or harm the debtor
Sacred Cow
refers to something that cannot be interfered with or harmed in any way
Svengali
A person who exercises excessive control or influence over another person
Romeo
Died for his love; very romantic dude
Sisyphean
Requiring endless effort; without result or success
Makkah (Mecca)
A place that attracts many people
juggernaut
a huge, powerful, and overwhelming force or institution
Polyanna
an excessively or blindly optimistic person.
Mordor
land of evil; a horrible place
Crossing the Rubicon
point of no return
Scheherazade
a person who is an excellent storyteller, especially one who is able to keep an audience in suspense
Thirty pieces of silver
Payment received for an act of treachery
Fiddle while Rome Burns
to display indifference in the midst of an emergency or disaster
Note 
Flashcard (55)