Stealing someone’s thunder
Language and Idioms
origin: playwright John Dennis, invented sound effect for thunder and his play was denounced by critics; then his sound effect was widely copied
definition: to take credit for an idea or lessen the effect of another’s idea by taking credit for it
Witch hunt
History, culture, ideas
origin: 1692, Salem Massachusetts- the hysteria of witches led to the arrest and execution of people; accused on flimsy evidence
definition: campaign against a particular group of people b/c unorthodox opinions or behaving in a unconventional manner
Throw down the gauntlet
Language and Idioms
origin: knights would throw down their glove (gauntlet) o challenge another, if the knight picked up the gauntlet he accepted the challenge
definition: issuing a challenge in a dramatic manner
The muses
Mythology and legend
origin: Greek mythology, nine goddesses who presided over the arts, inspiration to mortals
definition: someone’s source of inspiration, especially in artq
Kafkaesque
Literature
origin: Franz Kafka, a writer, wrote about anxiety inducing situations; The Metamorphosis
definition: a situation or experience that is bizarre, surreal, or anxiety-producing
Tower of Babel
The Bible
origin: Book of Genesis, decided to build tower that would reach Heaven; God introduced languages so the tower couldn’t be built
definition: noisy confusion
Pollyanna
Literature
origin: a character in children’s story by Eleanor H. Porter; “glad” game, find something good in every situation
definition: someone who is unusually optimistic, excessively cheerful and naive
Pavlov’s Dog
History, Culture, ad Ideas
origin: Ivan Pavlov, conditioned response, dogs salivated with the sound of a bell, conditioned to associate bell with food
definition: automatically or instinctively responds to or obeys a signal
Bedlam
Language and Idioms
origin: nickname for Hospital of St. Mary of Bethlehem, mental hospital; patients were given little treatment and roamed around
definition: widely chaotic or extremely raucous and noisy
The handwriting on the wall
The Bible
origin: Book of Daniel, King of Babylon threw a banquet, hand appeared and wrote messages on the wall, prophesizes that the king’s reign was over
definition: indication that doom or misfortune is coming
Albatross around one’s neck
Literature
origin: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, a poem by Samuel Coleridge, sailor shoots a bird and sailor has to wear carcass around his neck
definition: burdensome, ongoing problems
Prometheus/Promethean
Mythology and Legend
origin: Greek mythology, Prometheus was a demigod known for cunning, stole fire from Zeus; was punished by being chained to a rock and bird ate liver every day
definition: resistance of authority or rebellion against the established order of the universe
Juggernaunt
history, Culture, and Ideas
origin: Hindu deity, devotees threw themselves in front of the cart and were crushed, believed immediate entry into paradise
definition: any force, especially a destructive one, that defies opposition
red herring
Language and Idioms
origin: fish that when smoked has a pungent smell; fugitives would drag a red herring across trail to distract dogs; hunters used red herrings to divert hunting dogs
definition: diverting someone onto a false trail or distracting a person from the true issue
Pharisees/Pharisaical
The Bible
origin: Jewish sect that insisted on written law, Jesus called them outwardly pious and inwardly corrupt, no true mercy for others
definition: hypocrite who upholds the letter of the law but not its spirit
Sour Grapes
Literature
origin: The Fox and the Grapes, a fable by Aesop; fox gives up on getting grapes, mutters they were probably sour anyways
definition: attitude of a person who has been disappointed and bitterly rationalizes
Sold down the river
Language and Idioms
origin: 19th century America, sell house servants to plantations in the South, felt betrayed bc plantations were worse
definition: betrayed or mislead, especially by someone trusted
Don Quixote/ Tilting at Windmills
Literature
origin: romance written by Miguel de Cervantes, the hero reads too many romances and went own knightly adventures; attacks windmills believing them to be giants
definition: foolishly or impractically idealistic; naïve attempt to be heroic
Benedict Arnold
History, Culture, and Ideas
origin: military leader during American Revolution, became traitorous; agreed to surrender a key fort to the British to get payment
definition: a traitor
Delphic Oracle
Mythology and Legend
origin: Greece, Temple of Apollo- people would go to question, priestess would answer with difficult to interpret like riddles
definition: a prediction or message that is ambiguous and difficult to interpret
Over a Barrel
Language and Idioms
origin: rescued from drowning, held over barrel, completely dependent on rescuer
definition: unable to act independently, must do the bidding
Doublespeak
Literature
origin: novel 1984, type of propaganda where language is used ambiguously
definition: deliberate use of evasive or ambiguous language
Hoist with one’s own petard
Language and Idioms
origin: weapon used in medieval warfare, exploded prematurely person would be blown up
definition: caught in one’s own trap or beaten at one’s own game
Philistines/Philistinism
The Bible
origin: old testament, enemy of the Israelites, David fought the warrior Goliath
definition: no appreciation for culture, tastes are commonplace
Faust/ Faustian Bargain
Literature
origin: plays by Christopher Marlowe, Faust bargains with Mephistopheles (devil), sells his soul to have everything he desires
definition: sacrificing one’s self or one’s values in exchange for getting what one desires, often wealth
Sisyphus/Sisyphean
Mythology and Legend
origin: Greek mythology, a king who offended Zeus, eternity in Hades doing tasks over and over
definition: seemingly endless, perhaps futile task
Scylla and Charybdis
Mythology and Legend
origin: Scylla was a sea monster, Charybdis was a whirlpool, sailors steer their ships carefully in the middle
definition: caught between two equal dangers, avoiding one means you get closer to the other
Holy Grail
Literature
origin: Medieval legend, cup from which Jesus drank at last supper, associated with King Arthur, constantly sought after
definition: extremely desirable or valuable, long and difficult quest
Luddites
History, Culture, and Ideas
origin: British laborers, opposed industrialization, smashed textile machinery
definition: opposes change, especially industrial or technological
Babylon
The Bible
origin: luxury and corruption, Jews were exiled
definition: place of decadence and corruption
Phoenix/ Rosing from the Ashes
Mythology and Legend
origin: mythological bird, live for hundreds of years then burn itself and rise from its own ashes
definition: symbolize rebirth or resurrection, surmounting great obstacles
Sine qua non
Language and Idioms
origin: Latin, means without which, nothing
definition: essential ingredient without which an endeavor or a situation would be impossible